New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-C-Rome, Assemblyman Brian Miller, R-C-New Hartford, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, D-C-Marcy, and Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, R-C-Black River were joined by local firefighters, emergency medical technicians, first responders and area elected officials to urge the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to revisit proposed changes to the Fire Brigade Emergency Response Standard (1910.156) that will unnecessarily stress many volunteer, combination and career fire departments.
OSHA has proposed updating and expanding existing regulations for the safety and health of firefighters and other first responders, including emergency medical service providers and technical search and rescue workers.
However, organizations such as the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) and firefighters across the state and nation have expressed concerns that this change will impose significant additional administrative and operational requirements on volunteer fire departments and make it more difficult for them to recruit and retain members and provide essential fire protection.
OSHA has scheduled a public rulemaking hearing for Nov. 12. Instructions for how to participate in the hearing are available on the Emergency Response rulemaking webpage, www.osha.gov/emergency-response/rulemaking .
Once the rulemaking record is complete, OSHA has indicated that the agency will review all the information received and determine the appropriate approach to take with respect to volunteer organizations.
“I appreciate OSHA’s efforts to protect the health, safety and well-being of firefighters and first responders,” said Sen. Griffo, who has submitted comments on the proposed change to OSHA and area federal representatives. “However, I believe that this change will create new challenges or exacerbate existing ones for fire departments that are already struggling and will weaken fire protection in New York and across the nation. While I recognize that the safety of first responders is paramount, I am hopeful that OSHA will reconsider its proposal.”
“Firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and it’s critical that we support them in every way possible,” said Assemblyman Miller. “While ensuring their safety is paramount, we must also recognize the real-world impacts that regulatory changes can have on the operational capacity of our local fire departments, especially those that rely on volunteers. I urge OSHA to take a closer look at this proposed rule change, listen to the concerns presented by those on the front lines, and consider revisions that protect our first responders without compromising the effectiveness and safety of our fire departments. We need to strike a balance that upholds safety while also preserving the essential services our communities rely on.”
“Fire service in Oneida county is a crucial component of emergency preparedness,” said Assemblywoman Buttenschon. “The new suggested OSHA requirements need to be vetted throughout local fire departments to ensure that they can function at the capacity and level that is necessary to maintain an optimal fire service. Local input from our fire departments is essential in this process, as the unique challenges and resources of each department must be considered to implement effective, practical solutions that best serve our communities.”
“I commend Senator Griffo for holding a press conference on the proposed OSHA regulations,” said Assemblyman Blankenbush. “While the proposed OSHA regulations were created to support fire departments, the unseen effects would be catastrophic to the volunteer fire departments of Assembly District 117. Most of the fire departments in our district consist entirely of volunteers and lack the economic capabilities of largely funded departments that exist in more urban areas. This lack of funding for our fire departments would ultimately lead to closures across the district. We recently experienced a multitude of storms across our counties, and without the actions of our volunteer firefighters, the devastation would have been exponentially worse. These new OSHA regulations would have left us without our firefighters. This is something I cannot support.”
“The health and safety of our 80,000 dedicated volunteers is our highest priority,” said Kenneth Holmes, Sr., 2nd Vice President of FASNY. “That being said, we have serious concerns regarding the proposed changes to federal OSHA regulations governing both career and volunteer fire departments. These proposed regulations will have a profound negative impact on New York state’s almost 1,700 volunteer fire departments as well as volunteer fire departments across the nation. If OSHA is successful, the new requirements would create significant administrative and operational difficulties and could ultimately compromise public safety – all while driving up the costs of providing fire protection.”
“While I understand the importance of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of our fire departments, I share the concerns raised by Sen. Griffo and firefighters across the state regarding the proposed changes to the Fire Brigade Emergency Response Standard,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “These changes could place significant additional burdens on volunteer and combination departments, which already face challenges in recruitment and retention. I urge OSHA to carefully consider the potential impact on these vital services and work toward a solution that balances safety with the practical realities of our fire departments.”
To help address challenges facing fire departments in the state, Sen. Griffo has introduced a bill – called the “Public Safety Protection Act” – that would provide police and fire departments with access to $300 million in grant funding to help with recruitment and retention efforts and purchasing equipment.
The funding would be available over a three-year period. Police and fire departments would be eligible to apply for $100 million each year. That amount would be split equally ($50 million) between law enforcement and firefighting agencies.
A companion bill has been introduced by Assemblyman Billy Jones, D-Chateaugay Lake.
