IL HR0832

OSHA published a notice on February 5, 2024 proposing a new Emergency Response safety standard to replace the existing Fire Brigades Standard (29 C.F.R 1910.156), with public comment period concluding June 21, 2024

Illinois has 1,107 registered fire departments, of which 65.2% are fully volunteer and 14.1% are mostly volunteer, with estimated annualized compliance costs of $14,551 for volunteer departments and $18,853 for mixed departments

Illinois OSHA has adopted all federal OSHA standards, making any changes compulsory for all Illinois fire departments despite financial burden concerns for volunteer departments with limited resources

OSHA cannot certify that the proposed rule will not significantly impact small entities, triggering the need for an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

House urges OSHA and the federal government to not implement the new fire protection standards that would place financial burden on public safety and to conduct further analysis to minimize costs for volunteer fire departments