Senate Votes to Strengthen Fire Fighter Fatality Investigations

October 25, 2007 -- The U.S. Senate unanimously voted to double funding for the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The program, created by the IAFF in conjunction with President Bill Clinton, conducts investigations of fire fighter line-of-duty deaths to formulate recommendations for preventing future deaths and injuries.

The provision to double the program’s funds was offered as an amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act for 2008 by Senator John Kerry (D-MA).

“I thank Senator Kerry for his outstanding efforts in support of the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Program,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “The IAFF has long recognized the critical importance of investigating every fire fighter line-of-duty death By illuminating fire fighter health and safety hazards and making recommendations to prevent future tragedies, NIOSH investigations are critical to the IAFF’s health and safety initiatives.”

NIOSH came under fire earlier this year when news reports surfaced criticizing the FFFIPP for taking as long as a month to visit the scene of fire fighter deaths, reducing the number of investigations over the past three years, and limiting the scope of such investigations. A subsequent report by the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services found that such shortcomings are caused, in part, by a lack of funding.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education spending bill earlier this year. As the House and Senate begin working to resolve differences between the two bills, the IAFF will work with its allies to maintain the Kerry amendment in conference.