Mannion sends letter to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health
SYRACUSE, NY- Congressman-elect John W. Mannion (NY-22) today sent a letter to the Assistant Secretary of Labor urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to exempt volunteer fire departments from onerous new regulations. If adopted, the regulations will place an undue burden on volunteer companies that are already struggling with recruitment and retention, and will harm their ability to deliver vital public safety and emergency services.
Congressman-elect John W. Mannion said, “Volunteer firefighters risk their lives to keep our communities safe, and these new OSHA regulations will only make their public safety mission more difficult. I strongly urge OSHA to exempt volunteer fire departments from these unnecessary administrative burdens so these critical first responders can focus on serving and protecting our communities.”
The proposed OSHA regulations would impose new conditions on volunteer fire departments, including written emergency response plans, hazard vulnerability assessments, record keeping, training, personal protective equipment, medical screening, and behavioral health services requirements, as well as the incorporation of over twenty National Fire Protection Association standards. The regulations would place a burden on volunteer fire departments who do not have the capacity to adopt such changes, possibly resulting in closures.
The full text of Congressman-elect Mannion’s letter to Douglas L. Parker, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health:
Re: Draft Emergency Response Standard 29 CFR Part 1910
Dear Assistant Secretary Parker:
I write to you regarding my strong concern about the Draft Emergency Response Standard 29 CFR Part 1910, pertaining to the health and safety of firefighters and emergency responders. While these are laudable goals, it is clear that as written such draft standard would have adverse effects on the 886 municipal volunteer fire departments in New York State, including, but not limited to, increased financial strain, recruitment and retention difficulties, and the closure of fire departments.
I fully support efforts by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to improve the safety of our first responders; however, this pursuit of betterment cannot be to the detriment of New York State’s 90,000 volunteer firefighters who work diligently for their communities. However, this draft standard imposes new conditions on volunteer fire departments, including written emergency response plans, hazard vulnerability assessments, record keeping, training, personal protective equipment, medical screening, and behavioral health services requirements, as well as the incorporation of over twenty National Fire Protection Association standards. While these aforementioned policies are important for the improvement of fire protection services and the safety of volunteer firefighters, such draft standard fails to recognize the significant financial and personnel limitations that would be placed on volunteer departments; like, for example, the lack of administrative and financial resources to adhere to such draft standard. I have also heard from many fire departments within New York’s 22nd Congressional District, with increasing concern, that the proposal would amount to a significant unfunded mandate, stripping resources away from firefighting and towards administrative requirements.
It is my hope that OSHA considers exempting these municipal volunteer fire brigades, like the volunteer departments in my district, from some or all parts of the proposed draft standard; and, additionally, that areas where financial and logistical burdens can be identified are reduced. It is clear that this draft standard requires deeper discussion from all stakeholders, including from members of New York State’s volunteer fire service, to ensure that any future rulemaking does not damage emergency response capabilities in my district.
I know that OSHA remains steadfast in protecting the health and safety of the nation’s first responders. However, I remain deeply concerned about Draft Emergency Response Standard 29 CFR Part 1910 regarding the negative impacts such standard would have on municipal volunteer fire departments in New York’s 22nd Congressional district, including, but not limited to, increased financial strain, recruitment and retention difficulties, and the closure of fire districts.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office directly.
John Mannion is a lifelong Central New Yorker and grandson of Irish immigrants. With nearly three decades of teaching experience in the public school system, Mannion has consistently advocated for students and educators alike. John Mannion and his wife, Jennifer, are proud residents of Geddes, New York, where they raised their three children, two in college and one recently graduated.
