Pulaski Times

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) has joined Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Chris Coons (D-DE) in urging the Department of Labor to exempt volunteer fire departments from parts of a proposed rule that would impose stringent regulations on these organizations nationwide.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) introduced a new rule earlier this year, mandating fire departments to provide additional reports, training, equipment, and health services.

"Volunteer firefighters have indicated they lack the financial resources and personnel to comply with this rule," the senators wrote to Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. "For many departments, implementation of this rule would render significant shares of their equipment non-compliant. The financial burden associated with replacing that equipment and furnishing the reports, assessments, trainings, and health services required by the rule would be prohibitive for volunteer departments, whose budgets are already strained."

"It is our intention to insulate our volunteers and the communities they serve from the negative impacts of a regulation that could jeopardize their fire services," the senators continued. "The rule must provide volunteer departments with the flexibility to perform their duties unencumbered by impracticable requirements."

Joining Boozman, Moran, and Coons were Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), John Hoeven (R-ND), Angus King (I-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Tom Cotton (R-AR).

In February of this year, OSHA proposed a rule—the “Emergency Response” standard—to replace the “Fire Brigades” standard covering firefighters in the United States. The senators argue it is critical to explicitly exempt volunteer fire departments from parts or all of this new standard as OSHA finalizes it.

Over 85% of America’s fire departments are either volunteer or mostly volunteer. Nearly 700,000 out of America’s 1,056,000 firefighters are volunteers or paid per call firefighters. Communities across America, particularly in rural areas, rely on these departments for firefighting services.

The proposed rule would apply to more workers than existing standards and require fire departments to furnish new reports, training sessions, equipment upgrades, and health services. Volunteer firefighters have expressed concerns about lacking financial resources and personnel needed for compliance. For many departments implementing this rule could render significant portions of their equipment non-compliant due to budget constraints.

In its executive summary for the rule proposal OSHA suggested that most volunteers would not be affected; however there is widespread concern among non-profit volunteer fire departments even in states without an OSHA-approved State Plan regarding potential impacts.

Chad Russell President of Kansas Fire Chief’s Association estimated up-to 80% closures among volunteer departments nationwide if implemented while Steve Hirsch Chair National Volunteer Fire Council highlighted potential negative impacts on small communities particularly those served by such entities.

The senators emphasized insulating volunteers along with served communities from adverse regulatory impacts urging explicit exemptions within finalized "Emergency Response" standards ensuring operational flexibility against impractical requirements.