Falconer firefighters are seen at the scene of a fire in October. Volunteer fire departments are voicing concerns about new federal OSHA standards, saying they could make it easier to recruit and retain members.

Both statewide and locally, concerns have been raised by volunteer fire departments regarding new regulations proposed by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for first responders.

New regulations proposed by OSHA that would replace the 43-year-old Fire Service Standards establish nearly two dozen new rules for fire departments across the country, according to the New York State Fire Fighters Association. These regulations, currently in draft form, would have potentially profound impacts on New York’s volunteer fire departments.

In addition, FASNY stated in a press release that OSHA has not made changes to these regulations in 40 years and that major changes are currently underway with limited consideration of the impact, if any, these new mandates will have on local volunteer fire departments, particularly small and large fire departments. He said he suggested it. Rural fire departments in upstate New York. If OSHA is successful in advancing these new regulations in their current form, the new requirements would create significant administrative and operational challenges that could ultimately compromise public safety as well as increase the costs of providing fire protection. Currently, the time donated by volunteer firefighters saves the nation more than $46.9 billion annually. In New York State alone, volunteers save residents nearly $4 billion annually in additional property taxes by donating their time and efforts.

Ripley Hose Company No. 1 representative Rob Galbraith said the proposed rules and regulations have been in the making since 2007, and a panel of experts was convened during the creation process to help develop the rule’s language. but most were underrepresented.

“They convened a panel of ‘experts’ to help develop the language of the proposed rule,” Galbraith said. “Unfortunately, those most affected by this – our nation’s volunteer emergency service personnel – were grossly underrepresented at the hearings. The proposed rule was released late last December 2023 for comments from industry.”

The original comment period was cut off in June 2024, but was extended through July due to extensive feedback from volunteer emergency response organizations across the state. Galbraith said OSHA’s website about the new regulations contains approximately 4,156 comments from many departments and agencies, the vast majority opposing the new regulations.

The new regulations include a significant amount of administrative work that Galbraith said would be counterproductive to volunteer fire departments. It also includes changes to required physical specifications, an expected significant increase in the department’s budget, concerns about confidential medical files and other vague language that Galbraith said is cause for concern, and more.

“Volunteer firefighters and EMTs make up approximately 679,000, or 65%, of the nation’s emergency responders,” Galbraith said. “This unfunded mandate imposes a huge burden. Recruiting volunteer firefighters is not getting easier.”

Galbraith said much more paperwork will be required with the new regulations, meaning the Ripley department will have to hire an entirely new person to handle it. Another concern is about the aging population of volunteer firefighters; especially since the new regulations require volunteers and regular or full-time firefighters to undergo the same examination.

“It’s essentially a one-size-fits-all, but they say it’s not,” Galbraith said. “Volunteers work other jobs and due to work and family balancing, some may not pass the same physical requirements as regular firefighters. If they can pass the normal required physical tests, they should be fine.”

The regulations also include a requirement to potentially prematurely retire some equipment, which Galbraith said would be another major cost for volunteer fire departments. One of the biggest problems has to do with general language.

“We want clear and concise language,” Galbraith said. “There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty. We want more clarity. The devil is in the details and we need more details or I suggested a template. Volunteer fire departments may reach a tipping point with too much to do. Expecting a rural department to follow the same rules as urban or cities is a burden and unrealistic. “It is not clear that rural departments are being considered.”

Galbraith said the regulations have raised other concerns, such as some departments closing their doors and the nearest first responders in places like Ripley being left up to 60 miles away from where the call originated. Ripley Hose Company No. 1 was one of many companies that sent letters to OSHA asking them to reconsider the regulations, and as of mid-October, OSHA issued a statement to volunteer fire departments saying they might reconsider the changes. Galbraith said he believes OSHA doesn’t take everything into consideration when it comes to volunteer departments, but he believes they realize that now and are listening to people’s concerns.

A public hearing for the regulations is scheduled for November 12, and Galbraith is one of many people who have signed up to speak at the hearings (including both private citizens and fire or emergency services organizations in New York and across the country). It is expected to last two to four weeks.

Chautauqua County Emergency Services Director and Fire Coordinator Noel Guttman said while many of the regulations are bad, not all of them are bad.

“Most of these regulations are good and focus on safety, but some make it difficult for volunteer firefighters to comply with them,” Guttman said. “There was an open comment period, and I guess they didn’t expect this much backlash and backlash. They seem to be listening and saying they may exempt volunteer firefighters from the new regulations, but that may not be true either as some regulations are good, but it would be difficult for any volunteer fire department to comply 100% with them. .”

Guttman said that while some regulations are good, most are overly broad. He said the upcoming public hearings could take up to four weeks, but that’s also a good thing.

“There’s been a huge backlash and there’s no quick fix, but thankfully OSHA is listening and seems focused on making sure this is done right,” Guttman said.

Following the normal protocol for rulemaking for public hearings and comment period is the final step, Galbraith said, and the original plan was for the rule to go into effect by the end of 2024.

“We hope they realize that volunteer emergency services need to be held to a different standard and take into account the nature of the work compared to professional departments,” Galbraith said. “They are reconsidering, but we will continue to pressure them and voice our concerns.”