Tomorrow, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold virtual hearings on the proposed Emergency Response Standard (ERS).
IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly and other union officials are scheduled to testify at the hearing. Proceedings begin Nov. 12 and are expected to run through Friday, Nov. 15. With nearly 500 witnesses scheduled to testify, additional hearings are also scheduled to take place.
IAFF members can watch the proceedings by clicking the link here. OSHA will publish a unique video link for each day of the hearings on their website.
“The proposed Emergency Response Standard is the first meaningful reform to fire fighter safety standards in decades. Not only would it help keep fire fighters safe on the job, but it would also improve public safety in the communities we serve,” said Kelly.
Members should know the hearing link is for observational purposes only and will not allow you to participate in the hearing as a witness.
IAFF leaders are expected to begin their presentation at 9:30 am EST. You can view the full schedule for the hearing here.
The IAFF has been a leading proponent of the ERS proposal. The new rule calls for changes in all aspects of emergency response, including staffing, training, apparatus readiness, and protective clothing and equipment. Additionally, it will require employers to obtain baseline medical screenings for all emergency responders and requires access to behavioral health resources.
If adopted, the Emergency Response Standard would replace OSHA’s current Fire Brigade Standard, which hasn’t seen any meaningful update since the 1980s.
You can learn more about the ERS proposal, and how it’ll impact professional fire fighters across the United States, here.
