The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has acknowledged the concerns raised by the volunteer fire service regarding its proposed Emergency Response Standard.
In a statement released this week, OSHA indicated its commitment to listening to public comments and emphasized the need for further engagement from the volunteer fire service.
As reported by the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the next opportunity for the fire service to provide input will be at the upcoming public hearing scheduled to begin on November 12.
The hearing will be held on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET and is expected to continue for several weeks.
Individuals wishing to testify must submit a Notice of Intent to Appear (NOITA) by September 27 to secure a timeslot, even if they are uncertain whether they will use it.
OSHA has opened the public hearing to anyone interested in providing testimony, even if they did not submit comments during the public comment period that ended on July 22.
The NVFC is actively encouraging all firefighters to request a timeslot, noting that even those unsure about testifying should still secure a spot.
The NVFC has developed resources to assist those interested in testifying.
These resources include guidance on the NOITA submission process and tips for developing testimony.
The council also suggests reviewing public comments from other organizations such as the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Association of Counties, which are available in the public docket.
All public comments submitted on the proposed Emergency Response Standard can be viewed in OSHA’s searchable public docket.
The NVFC encourages individuals to review these comments, which are available to filter by topic, organization name, and other parameters.
Firefighters and other stakeholders are advised to highlight areas of agreement or disagreement with comments from other organizations, such as those from national associations, to strengthen their testimony.
Re-emphasizing points previously made during the public comment period is also acceptable but should not be the main focus of the testimony.
The NVFC remains dedicated to ensuring that the voices of volunteer firefighters are heard in the ongoing rule-making process.
By urging firefighters to participate in the public hearing and contribute testimony, the organization is advocating for a collaborative approach to refining OSHA’s Emergency Response Standard.
Testimony from a broad range of stakeholders is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the final version of the rule.
The public hearing offers an important platform for the volunteer fire service to share its perspective on the proposed regulations and their potential impact.
OSHA has acknowledged concerns raised by the volunteer fire service over its proposed Emergency Response Standard.
The next opportunity for the fire service to provide input is at a public hearing beginning November 12.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) encourages all firefighters to request a timeslot to testify by submitting a Notice of Intent to Appear before the September 27 deadline.
The NVFC has provided guidance on submitting NOITA and preparing testimony.
The public docket containing all submitted comments is available for review, allowing participants to reference other organizations’ feedback during their testimony.
