The Biden administration’s proposal to update safety standards for firefighters and emergency responders has sparked a division among major labor unions and volunteer fire departments.
As reported by Politico, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) supports the new standards proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), while volunteer firefighters express concerns over the potential financial and administrative burdens.
The proposed changes, announced in December, aim to modernize the Fire Brigades Standard, last updated during the Carter administration.
The update, to be renamed the Emergency Response Standard, includes baseline medical screening, training, certification requirements, and access to specific protective gear.
IAFF leader Edward Kelly emphasized the need for these updates, stating: “We want healthy firefighters. If we have healthy firefighters, we have a healthier fire department.
“And the safer and healthier the fire department, the safer and healthier the community.”
Despite the intended benefits, the proposal has faced significant opposition, particularly from volunteer fire departments.
Critics argue that the new standards would impose heavy financial and administrative strains, potentially crippling small volunteer departments.
Ryan Woodward of the National Volunteer Fire Council expressed these concerns: “The standard, as written, would just cripple many volunteer departments out there, and frankly, compromise emergency response in a lot of small communities across the country.”
While OSHA claims it has avoided a “one-size-fits-all” policy, critics maintain that the flexibility offered is insufficient.
Woodward noted: “Did they make a couple of accommodations? They did. However, it barely scratches the surface.
“Your rural volunteer fire department is still going to have to fulfill 90 percent of the same criteria as the FDNY under this proposed standard.”
The controversy has caught the attention of Congress, prompting letters of concern to OSHA from House Republicans and a bipartisan group led by Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.).
OSHA has responded by extending the public comment period twice, with the current deadline set for July 22.
However, it remains uncertain whether a final version of the standards will be implemented before the end of President Biden’s term.
OSHA’s standards do not directly apply to volunteers, but states with OSHA-approved safety plans, such as New York, could still require volunteer firefighters to adhere to the same standards as their career counterparts.
This potential overlap adds another layer of complexity to the debate.
