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IAFF LEGISLATIVE FACT SHEET
Fire Fighter Safety Standards
The IAFF supports adoption of national
consensus standards for safe fire department operations, and urges Members of
Congress to cosponsor
legislation to promote compliance with such standards.
BACKGROUND
Fire Department operations, protective gear and equipment and fire fighter
qualifications vary greatly among localities, with such requirements remaining
largely a matter of local custom and history. As a result, there is a wide
disparity in fire department capabilities, and too many fire departments use
outdated policies and ineffective equipment and practices. This not only hampers
an effective emergency response, but threatens the health and safety of fire
fighters.
Between 100 and 120 fire fighters continue to die in the line of duty each
year, while tens of thousands of additional fire fighters sustain work-related
injuries. While it will never be possible to eliminate all line-of-duty deaths,
many such fatalities are entirely preventable.
Fortunately, the most effective ways to protect fire fighter health and
safety are well understood. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and
other standards-making bodies have developed industry consensus standards for
safe fire fighting practices. These standards have been developed and are
supported by all facets of the fire service, as well as government agencies and
interested private sector parties. The standards address a wide range of issues,
including requirements for protective equipment, safe staffing and fireground
operations,
training, fitness and incident command.
Simply following such consensus standards would significantly reduce the
number of fatalities among fire fighters. Yet, due to their voluntary
nature, these standards are too often ignored by fire departments.
CURRENT LEGISLATION
U.S. House:
H.R. 5686, the Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act of 2008
Sponsor: Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-CO)
U.S. Senate:
S. 2887, the Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act of 2008
Sponsor: Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Summary: The
Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act promotes fire department compliance
with fire fighter safety standards. Specifically, the bill would:
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Require the
Department of Homeland Security to ascertain the current level
of compliance with industry consensus standards for safe
operations, staffing, training and fitness among career,
volunteer and combination fire departments;
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Establish a task
force to explore ways that governments can promote the adoption
of such standards by fire departments; and
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Require the task
force to provide recommendations to Congress, states and
localities on how best to increase fire department compliance
with such standards.
Cosponsors H.R. 5686
Cosponsors S. 2887
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION
On
April 2, 2008, H.R. 5686 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and
referred to the Committee on Science.
On April 17, 2008, S. 2887 was
introduced in the U.S. Senate and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs.
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