U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran says financially strapped volunteer fire departments in Kansas and other states should be exempt from costly federal regulations included in a proposed update of health and safety standards for emergency response workers. Standards under consideration by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration would apply to firefighters as well as personnel engaged in emergency medical services and technical search and rescue operations. The agency recommended changes to rules regarding written emergency response plans, hazard vulnerability assessments, training, personal protective equipment, medical screening and behavioral health services. Moran, a Kansas Republican, joined a bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators who asked the federal Department of Labor to exclude volunteer fire departments from “burdensome” portions of the proposed regulations. In Kansas, nearly 80% of fire departments are staffed by volunteers.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
