State AGs Call to Oppose Fire Brigade Rules

20 state attorneys general in opposing new federal mandates that they say will threaten the future of small-town, volunteer fire departments.
The AGs submitted a comment letter Friday criticizing changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Fire Brigades standards.
They claim the standard will impose costly equipment requirements that could force small, volunteer-based departments to shut down.
These departments account for over 70% of firefighting services nationwide.
“The Biden-Harris one-size-fits-all mandates might work for New York City, but they do not work for volunteer Iowa fire departments,” said Iowa AG Brenna Bird. “I am calling to end the Biden-Harris mandates that drive out volunteer firefighters, hurting small towns and rural communities.”
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OSHA’s Atlanta regional office has renewed two Regional Emphasis Programs, covering powered industrial trucks and noise hazards in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The powered industrial trucks program — forklifts and lift trucks — seeks to reduce fatalities and injuries in general industry, construction and maritime.
The noise hazards REP covers a wide range of industrial setting, including sawmills and planing mills, fabricated metal products and boat building.
The two REPs are now in force until November 2028.
The office also renewed Local Emphasis Programs concerning policies and strategies for programmed construction inspections and scheduling programmed inspections of federal agency sites.
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NIOSH director Dr. John Howard is asking employers to address drowsy driving after the agency’s recent systematic review finding that in workplaces with a strong safety culture, a fatigue risk management system can help both employers and workers reduce the safety and health risks posed by fatigue.
Howard cited a 2017 analysis showing that 37% of U.S. workers get less than the recommended minimum seven hours of sleep.
He referred employers to specific agency resources to deal with the issue, including a “Driver Fatigue on the Job” webpage outlining actions employers and workers can take to reduce the risk of fatigue-related crashes and injuries.
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A Kentucky construction worker was rescued last week after he became trapped in rubble for nine hours as his demolition team was working on a Louisville site.
The man fell almost 12 feet into a “void space” at the site of a former corrections building that is being demolished to make way for a medical campus.
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