Public Hearing on OSHA Emergency Response Standard
OSHA's informal public hearing on its proposed rule “Emergency Response Standard”
OSHA's informal public hearing on its proposed rule “Emergency Response Standard”
OSHA's informal public hearing on its proposed rule “Emergency Response Standard”
OSHA has announced that its holding an informal public hearing (a virtual option will be available) on its proposed rule “Emergency Response Standard” from 9:30am-4:30pm ET on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-16126.pdf. This is a good opportunity for volunteer departments to share highlighted info below.
“Additional information on how to access the informal hearing will be posted at www.osha.gov/emergencyresponse/rulemaking. To testify or question other witnesses at the hearing, interested persons must electronically submit a Notice of Intention to Appear (NOITA) on or before September 27, 2024. In addition, those who request more than 10 minutes for their presentation at the informal hearing and those who intend to submit documentary evidence at the hearing must submit the full text of their testimony, as well as a copy of any documentary evidence, no later than October 18, 2024.”
“Witnesses are welcome to testify about any topics, issues, or concerns they have with the proposed rule. OSHA is particularly interested in hearing testimony regarding the following topics:
1. Firefighting services that are not primarily all-hazard/structural, such as wildland, aircraft/airport, and marine, or others. OSHA is particularly interested in hearing testimony related to the appropriate treatment of each of these firefighting categories as related to the current requirements of the proposed rule and whether or not the unique hazards presented by each category of firefighting warrant differential treatment.
2. Emergency medical service providers that are not fire department based, and those that provide aerial transport.
3. Technical search and rescue service providers, particularly those that are not fire department based such as technical water rescue (including some lifeguards), technical wilderness/mountain search and rescue (such as rope/high angle, ski patrol, etc.).
4. Specific recommendations for reducing the burden(s) on volunteer/non compensated responders.
5. Specific recommendations for excluding volunteer/non-compensated responders.
6. Public information on the financial profile of emergency response organizations, particularly those with a substantial volunteer element.
7. Public information for estimating the number of employers (and affected employees) who would be classified as Workplace Emergency Response Employers under the proposed standard.
8. Detail on the current practice for various proposed provisions (e.g., medical exams) among emergency response organizations.
I. Informal Public Hearing—Purpose, Rules and Procedures
Several commenters (see, e.g., Document ID 0814, 0894, 0987, 1188) requested that OSHA hold a public hearing. OSHA has agreed to do so. OSHA invites interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by providing oral testimony and documentary evidence at the informal public hearing to provide the agency with the best available evidence to use in developing the final rule. The hearing will be fully virtual to provide the opportunity for more stakeholders from across the country to participate in and/or observe the hearing without the financial and logistical burden of traveling to Washington, DC to attend in person.”
