The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has commented on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed rule entitled “Emergency Response Standard” (Emergency Response).
ACOEM appreciate that OSHA’s proposed rule would replace OSHA’s existing Fire Brigades standard at 29 CFR 1910.156 (originally promulgated in 1980) and cover a broader set of present-day emergency responders beyond firefighters, including private sector emergency responders and public fire and rescue entities in all OSHA state plan states (including an undetermined number of volunteer fire departments). However, ACOEM strongly encourage OSHA to consider the comments provided by ACOEM below and other comments it receives from impacted entities regarding this rulemaking. The complete letter can be read on the ACOEM website.