OSHA Proposes New Safety Measures for Emergency Responders

The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration recently released a proposed rule to update safety standards for emergency responders. It would apply to firefighters, emergency medical service providers, and search and rescue workers.

Currently, OSHA regulations protect emergency responders in a patchwork of decades-old, hazard-specific standards that fail to address the full range of job hazards faced today, OSHA said in a statement. The workplace hazards include falls, lack of oxygen, toxic chemicals, excessive noise, repetitive motion and over-exertion due to lifting heavy objects. The most common cause of injury among firefighters and emergency medical service providers is overexertion or strain, OSHA reported.

“We are proposing much-needed updates that will expand protections for emergency workers and bring our standards closer to common industry procedures,” said Doug Parker, assistant secretary for occupational safety and health.

The deadline to submit public comments on the proposed rule is May 6.

We’ve gathered a group of articles on the news from SHRM Online and other trusted sources.

Workplace Hazards

The proposed rule would address a variety of workplace hazards, including exposure to toxic chemicals, equipment failures, infectious diseases and the mental health impact of first-responder positions.

The rule would apply to all privately employed responders and exclude employers engaged in activities and operations regulated by OSHA’s construction, maritime and agriculture standards, as well as volunteer emergency responders.

(Husch Blackwell)

Extra Protections

The proposed rule includes major changes for protective clothing and equipment for emergency responders. It also would require employers to obtain baseline medical screenings for all first responders and ensure continued medical surveillance is performed when responders are exposed to the byproducts of fires and explosions more than 15 times a year.

(Safety & Health Magazine)

Helmets Preferred

Instead of hard hats, OSHA now encourages the use of safety helmets by everyone working at construction sites, oil and gas industry sites, and workplaces involving high temperature, electrical work and working from heights.

OSHA published a Safety and Health Information Bulletin titled “Head Protection: Safety Helmets in the Workplace” on its website. This bulletin describes the differences between contemporary safety helmets and conventional hard hats.

(SHRM Online)

Legal Application

Most private employers are covered under the federal Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. State and local governments and self-employed workers are usually covered under state plans, and certain industries may be regulated by another federal agency, such as the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Federal government workers are covered by the OSH Act and are monitored by OSHA but are not subject to fines for noncompliance.

There are OSHA safety standards for construction work, maritime operations and general industry, which is the set that applies to most worksites. These standards limit the amount of hazardous chemicals workers can be exposed to, require the use of certain safe practices and equipment, and require employers to monitor hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses.

(SHRM Toolkit and SHRM HR Q&A)