OSHA Extends Comment Period on Proposed Emergency Response Rule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced that the comment submission deadline for the proposed Emergency Response Rule has been extended to July 22nd, 2024. The proposed rule has generated questions and concerns from the regulated community and was the subject of a recent Congressional oversight hearing. Comments can be submitted to the Emergency Response Docket here.

On February 5, 2024, OSHA proposed a new rule to update the existing regulations for the safety and health of firefighters and other emergency responders. This new rule would replace the current Fire Brigades standard at 29 CFR 1910.156, which was originally established in 1980. The updated rule aims to cover a wider range of today’s emergency responders, including those in the private sector with emergency response teams. The proposed rule would introduce several requirements, including written emergency response plans, hazard vulnerability assessments, training, personal protective equipment, medical screening, behavioral health services, and more. Its primary focus is to ensure workplace protections for workers who respond to emergencies as part of their regular duties, expanding the scope to include emergency medical service providers and technical search and rescue teams.