Firefighter deaths lead to OSHA warning
- State inspectors have warned Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to improve firefighter safety after finding major breakdowns in communication at scenes where firefighters have died on the job.
- The Illinois OSHA sent a letter to Johnson that the Chicago Fire Department must make it “standard operating procedure” for firefighters to stay in touch with each other at all times.
- An inspection by Illinois OSHA found that a hose on rookie firefighter MaShawn Plummer’s breathing equipment tore in two places while he was alone in a burning apartment building in Belmont Cragin in December 2021.
- The agency found no defect in the equipment that could explain the ruptures. But the agency found other failures: Firefighters didn’t stay in touch while working the fire, Plummer was not in radio contact with anyone when he collapsed, and there was a delay in declaring a mayday.
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Tennessee trucking company fined
- Hunley Construction LLC in Tennessee was ordered to pay $4,000 after a worker died in October 2023 while operating a compactor, according to the Tennessee OSHA.
- The worker was using a Caterpillar CP-433E Compactor when it tipped on its left side. TOSHA said the worker was not wearing a seatbelt and got several head injuries after hitting the compactor’s metal canopy.
- The worker’s left arm was also pinned under the equipment’s canopy.
- TOSHA said the worker was helping build Mockingbird Meadows, a new subdivision in Knoxville. Two other employees were operating skid steers, and one quickly responded after noticing the compactor was on its side.
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Used gear may expose first responders to cancer
- Wear and tear in firefighters’ protective clothing may lead to an increased release of chemicals linked to cancer, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- NIST researchers tested 21 textiles used in “turnout gear,” including jackets and pants, for 53 types of polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Tests included abrasion, heat, laundering, and weathering, which was simulated using ultraviolet radiation and high humidity.
- Abrasion of the material released more PFAS – known as forever chemicals because they break down slowly over time – across all textiles. Weathering and heat were linked to increased PFAS for outer shell materials. Laundering garments had little effect.
- PFAS concentrations were at their highest level in outer shell fabrics with water-repellent coatings and at their lowest levels in the thermal layer. Cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters.
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Nominations south for Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health
- The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking nominations to fill a key labor representative position on the Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH).
- According to a recent DOL release, this opening resulted from a vacancy that occurred in November 2023. FACOSH advises the Secretary of Labor on federal employee occupational safety and health.
- The 16-member council bridges the DOL and federal agencies, ensuring the work environment for federal employees adheres to safety standards.
- The current opening is for a mid-term appointment, extending until December 31, 2024. Members of FACOSH are appointed by the Secretary of Labor. Interested candidates can submit their nominations through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, referencing Docket Number OSHA-2023-0012.
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