Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed an overhaul of 29 CFR 1910.156, the Fire Brigades Standard, which has been in effect and unchanged since 1980, and has had minimal impact on the fire service. South Carolina fire departments could be impacted if the proposed changes to 1910.156 go into effect.
The title of 1910.156 will change from “Fire Brigades” to the new title, “Emergency Response.” The proposed changes turn OSHA heavily toward National Fire Protection Association standards, with some standards being incorporated in whole or in part, and other NFPA standards used to influence the OSHA regulation. The detailed proposed changes are accessible here.
OSHA sought commentary on the proposals with the initial public comment period scheduled to end May 6, 2024. The comment period was extended twice, ultimately to July 22, 2024, in response to numerous requests from stakeholders. According to the South Carolina State Firefighters' Association webpage, a collective response was drafted and submitted on its behalf outlining the challenges the new changes will present in South Carolina.
The Federal Register noted that OSHA will hold an online hearing on November 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. If needed, the hearing will be extended from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on subsequent weekdays.
Risk Management Services will continue to monitor the progress of these proposed changes and provide updates as needed. For questions, contact Bethany Pendley, loss control manager, at bpendley@masc.sc or 803.933.1210.