<div dir="ltr">I guess this is a really significant change they are proposing. Chief Abel is signed up for the Saturday webinar related to it.<div><br></div><div>Jeff<br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:ddenniston@afdsny.org">ddenniston@afdsny.org</a>></span><br>Date: Thu, Feb 22, 2024 at 12:38 PM<br>Subject: Significant Changes to OSHA Fire Brigade Standard 1910.156 - Immediate Attention Required<br>To: Jeffrey Prescott <<a href="mailto:egfd3treasurer@gmail.com">egfd3treasurer@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div class="msg-922959174975622378">
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Jeffrey,
<br><br>
<p>Hello <br>
<br>
OSHA recently published significant changes to OHSA
1910.156 which has the potential to dramatically change the face of the US and NYS Fire Service. The proposed changes
are in a 90 day (ends May 6th) comment period and require immediate action by your fire service organization. The 608
page document published by OSHA contains data and compelling stories as to why the changes are needed. While we 100%
agree with firefighter safety and everything that can be done to improve it, we feel the financial and time consuming
changes in the standard will have negative impacts on the fire service organizations and will actually decrease the
already struggling number of firefighters and may force many to leave the service. We also question the reliability of
some of the data and theories used to produce this proposal. There are immediate actions that all fire service
organizations could take that would have immediate impacts on firefighter safety and be of little or no expense to the
AHJ. Several of these areas have been untouched by the proposed standard while costly and time consuming requirements
have made their way into the proposed regulation. 22 NFPA standards are now included in the proposed OSHA standard by
reference. This means that anyplace the NVFA standard says “shall” or “must” the AHJ would be
responsible to include them. There are another 14 NFPA standards that are included in part. Bottom line is these
changes would have major implications on every AHJ, Officer and firefighter in NYS. Our concern here is not unfunded
mandates and possible fines, our biggest concern is the liability this will now place on organizations that have a
firefighter death or injury. This proposed standard leaves the doors wide open for litigation and settlements at a
level we have never seen.</p>
<p>AFDSNY is hosting a webinar on Saturday morning 2/22/24 to explain the process and
shed some light on the changes. The webinar is limited to 500 participants and registration is near 400 at this point.
We encourage you to both register and log in early to get a spot. We are attempting to increase the number of seats if
we get closer to that 500 number. We will also make a recording available after the webinar for anyone that might have
a conflict or can not get in.</p>
<p>Webinar registration link:</p>
<p><a href="https://archcapgroup.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4pKiYkIcSEW1FFIRl6yVJg" rel="noreferrer
noopener" target="_blank">https://archcapgroup.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4pKiYkIcSEW1FFIRl6yVJg</a> <br>
</p>
<p>We are asking that every AHJ in NYS assign someone to start reading the proposed standard and that
every AHJ file a comment with specific information on financial burden and hardships that would create for your
municipality. This week alone, I have had conversations with representatives from USSBA, FEMA, PESH, state and local
fire service organizations, and both NYS State and Federal elected officials. ALL of these have expressed concerns
that this would have major impacts on how fire service is delivered here in NYS. The clock is ticking and we only have
until May 6th to have our voices heard. The importance of immediate action of every AHJ can simply not be
overstated. Both your boards and legal council should be included in your conversations.</p>
<p>The document can be
found here: <a href="https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/federalregister/2024-02-05" rel="noreferrer
noopener" target="_blank">Emergency Response Standard; Proposed Rule | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(osha.gov)</a></p>
<p>The heart of the proposed regulation is here: <a href="https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/erp-draft-reg.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Section
1910.156, Emergency Response (osha.gov)</a></p>
<p>Additional US Department of Labor resources: <a href="https://www.osha.gov/emergency-response/rulemaking?trk=public_post_comment-text" rel="noreferrer
noopener" target="_blank">Emergency Response Rulemaking | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(osha.gov)</a></p>
<p>Informational webinar by OSHA Training Institute: <a href="https://oshaedne.com/webinar-emergency-response-rule/" rel="noreferrer
noopener" target="_blank">https://oshaedne.com/webinar-emergency-response-rule/</a></p>
<p>Additional information at: <a href="https://afdsny.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Home - Association of Fire Districts of the State
of New York (afdsny.org)</a><br>
</p>
<p>David C. Denniston</p>
<p>Vice
President</p>
<p>AFDSNY</p>
<p>607-423-1636</p>
<br><br>
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<br>Message sent by David Denniston, <a style="color:inherit;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:ddenniston@afdsny.org" target="_blank">ddenniston@afdsny.org</a> <br>Association of Fire Districts of the State of New
York | PO Box 496 | Selkirk, NY 12158<br><br> <br><a href="http://www.memberleap.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" valign="bottom" align="center" src="cid:ii_18dd264153bebe600542"></a></span>
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