OSHA looks at firefighter safety … and fire poles
Excerpts from BusinessInsurance.com: There may be a new safety standard on the horizon for emergency responders in the U.S., and it could have major consequences for small fire departments and emergency services. According to stakeholders, the proposed rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) might force some organizations to shut down and even ban the installation of fire poles in new fire stations if passed. OSHA has asked the National Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health to provide recommendations for a new emergency responder preparedness program. The Emergency Response and Preparedness Subcommittee is now working on drafting the actual standard, which aims to improve workplace health and safety for these essential workers. The draft proposal includes several key requirements designed to identify and mitigate potential hazards faced by emergency personnel. One of the most controversial aspects involves medical evaluations for firefighters and other first responders. These would include baseline and annual physicals, covering medical history, exams, and lab tests to detect conditions that could impact job performance. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 64 firefighters died in the U.S. in 2014, with sudden cardiac events accounting for 56% of those deaths. While the intent of the proposal is to protect workers, many are concerned about the financial burden it could place on small departments with limited budgets. Phil Stittleburg, chief of the LaFarge Fire Department in Wisconsin, highlighted this issue. His department operates on an annual budget of around $65,000 and faces tough choices between funding medical exams or replacing essential equipment like helmets. For small departments, the cost of compliance could be overwhelming. The proposal also suggests that new fire stations should use stairs or slides instead of fire poles for rapid access, effectively banning the installation of new poles two years after the final rule is published. This provision is meant to reduce injuries and fatalities linked to pole usage. In 2012, a firefighter in California suffered a broken leg after falling from a pole, according to OSHA. Bill Hamilton, a fire protection engineer at OSHA, explained that the goal is to reduce injuries caused by sliding down poles. “Eliminating new poles in favor of safer alternatives like stairs or slides could help prevent serious accidents,†he said. However, the idea of removing fire poles has sparked backlash among some firefighters. Poles are seen as part of the tradition and culture of firehouses, and many fear the proposal could face strong opposition. Kenneth Willette from the National Fire Protection Association warned that the language in the proposal could become a point of contention, potentially hindering the overall effectiveness of the standard. To ensure the proposal is well-informed, the subcommittee has decided to gather more data on the number of injuries and fatalities related to pole use compared to stairs and slides before finalizing the recommendation. Efficiency and Speed, Professional Finishing, Complementary to Lockstitch Machines,Tension and Threading Zhejiang Lejiang Machine Co., Ltd. , https://www.cnlejiang.com