New OSHA Proposed Rule on "Emergency Response Workers"
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOL/bulletins/3813682
Looks like this is coming out in January 2024. At first, it sounds like it is talking about "Fire Brigades" but then it talks about "Emergency Response Workers" in general. Could be good and bad news, so we will have to wait and see what it really looks like!
I remember when I started in the large foundry in 1976 we had a Fire Brigade. I remember they had an old army jeep painted red, with ladders, axes, and a large reel of fire hose. There were about 20 guys on each shift on the Brigade and they all had red helmets. They would have drills about every other month. They would build mock fires in pigs (large portable 12'X12' sand pits used to pour excess molten iron) and practice putting out fires.
In the mid-80s they got tired of playing fireman and so disbanded the Fire Brigades. The city about the same time thereafter built a new fire hall a few blocks from the foundry.
We also started an incentive system to have the employees join the surrounding volunteer fire departments and as reserves in the city department. WE hoped that we would be able to retain some fire capability. I did not think it was as good as having our own brigades.
Comments (5)
This is definitely a much needed update. In the 40 years since the standard was originally published, firefighting has changed dramatically. The old standard references ANSI standards that were developed in the the 70s
However, in Manufacturing plants this is not affected. It is companies that are hired for this I believe.