Review of Safety-Related Regulations and Standards

1. Review of Safety-Related Regulations and Standards Chapter 2 2-1

2. Learning Objectives • Discuss the difference between regulations and standards. • Discuss the concept of standard of care. • List and discuss federal regulations that have an impact on emergency responder safety and health programs. • Describe the OSHA General Duty Clause. Cont. 2-2

3. Learning Objectives • List and discuss the major National Fire Protection Association Standards that have an impact on emergency responder occupational safety and health programs. • Discuss the role of related regulations and standards and their safety and health implications. 2-3

4. Introduction • Knowledge and understanding of health and safety-related standards and regulations is essential in all emergency service functions • Life Safety Initiatives 5, 6, 11, 12, 15, and 16 are directly or closely related to regulations and standards • Regulations and standards are essential components and play an important role in a comprehensive the safety and health program 2-4

5. Regulations Versus Standards • Regulations • Weight of law • Mandatory requirements • The 50 titles of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) • Title 29 CFR which is the Occupation Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) regulations • State Adoption Cont. 2-5

6. Regulations Versus Standards • Standards • Do not mandate compliance • Commonly known as consensus standards • NFPA is one example • Not mandatory unless adopted into law by local or state legislation • These standards can become a standard of care 2-6

7. Standard of Care • Responder must perform in the same way as another reasonable person with the same training and equipment would perform • Avoids liability • Certain expectations when it comes to performance • Dynamic concept 2-7

8. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Regulations • Federal OSHA has no direct enforcement authority over state and local governments • State may implement its own enforcement program • Federal OSHA must approve the state's plan • Requirements must be met • Currently 27 states/territories have state OSHA plans • Covered by regulations promulgated by federal OSHA 2-8

9. States and Territories with OSHA Plans 2-9

10. OSHA Regulations • OSHA 1910.146 (29 CFR 1910.146) Permit-required confined spaces • Large enough a person can bodily enter and perform assigned work • Limited or restricted means for entry or exit • Not designed for continuous employee occupancy Cont. 2-10

11. OSHA Regulations • OSHA 1910.134 (29 CFR 1910.134) Respiratory Protection • Control of occupational diseases • Prevent atmospheric contamination • Engineering control measures • Respirators provided when necessary Cont. 2-11

12. OSHA Regulations • OSHA 1910.120 (29 CFR 1910.120) Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response • Written plan must be made available to all employees • Implication is powerful and multifaceted • Employer must certify that competencies have been met • PPE • Training levels Cont. 2-12

13. OSHA Regulations • OSHA 1910.156 (29 CFR 1910.156) Fire Brigades • Applies to fire brigades, industrial fire departments, and private or contractual-type fire departments • Contains requirements for employer established fire brigades • Organization • Training • Personal protective equipment Cont. 2-13

14. OSHA Regulations • OSHA 1910.1030 (29 CFR 1910.1030) Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens • Occupational exposures • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) • Other bloodborne pathogens • Exposure control plan • Reviewed and updated annually • Sooner, as needed 2-14

15. OSHA General Duty Clause • Elements proving violation of General Duty Clause • Failed to keep workplace free of a hazard • Hazard was recognized • Hazard was causing or likely to cause death or serious injury • Was a feasible and useful method to correct the hazard • Relationship of consensus standards • Industry recognition of a hazard 2-15

16. NFPA Standards • NFPA 1500 • Most significant document in the development of the firefighter safety • Takes advantage of current technologies and procedures • Covers the essential elements of a comprehensive safety and health program • Incorporates other standards into it as requirements • Holistic approach Cont. 2-16

17. NFPA Standards • Forty-seven other NFPA standards incorporated by reference into NFPA 1500 • Five from 1500 series • NFPA 1521 • NFPA 1561 • NFPA 1581 • NFPA 1582 • NFPA 1583 Cont. 2-17

18. NFPA Standards • NFPA 1521 • Health and safety officer • Incident safety officer • Fire chief appoints HSO • Need not be a fire department officer 2-18

19. Other Related Standards and Regulations • American National Standards Institute • ASTM International • Environmental Protection Agency • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health • Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act of 1990, Subtitle B 2-19

20. Summary • Regulations can be lawfully enforced • Standards are only enforceable if adopted into law • Regulations and standards often come from OSHA and other local and national organizations • Safety and health are ongoing considerations • There are many regulations and standards that can provide an accepted framework of best practices 2-20