By Bill CareyFireRescue1
DELEVAN, N.Y. — Congressman Nick Langworthy voiced concerns about the proposed OSHA firefighting standards, calling for a delay in passing the new standards and allowing more public comments.
Langworthy criticized the changes on Aug. 6, stating they could cost local fire departments tens of thousands of dollars annually and potentially shut down many volunteer fire departments, the Olean Times Herald reported.
“The proposed regulation completely disregards the substantial financial and operational constraints faced by volunteer fire departments,” Langworthy said. “It’s one thing if you’re coming after a private business … these are volunteers.”
Langworthy criticized OSHA’s first firefighting regulation overhaul in over 40 years as out-of-touch, saying it was done without understanding its impact on communities like Delevan.
“You can’t pancake breakfast your way out of this,” Langworthy said. “The vast majority of these departments operate under very small budgets, and they self-fundraise.”
A draft analysis of the proposed standard estimates that a department with 40 firefighters, similar to Delevan’s 35, would face a one-time cost of $38,000 and annual costs of $22,300, primarily for medical and fitness requirements. For a department with 20 firefighters, the costs would be $29,000 upfront and $16,300 annually.
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