Senator Cynthia Lummis, U.S. Senator for Wyoming | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator Cynthia Lummis, U.S. Senator for Wyoming | Official U.S. Senate headshot
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Vice Chair Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and two of their Senate Western Caucus colleagues have expressed concerns regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed “Emergency Response Standard.” In a letter addressed to OSHA Assistant Secretary Douglas Parker, the senators urged reconsideration of potential unintended consequences for volunteer EMS, firefighters, and wilderness search and rescue operations.
“This one-sized-fits-all rule would be an incredible burden to the volunteer EMS, fire, and wilderness search and rescue in Wyoming and the west,” the senators wrote. “It would impose additional health and safety requirements that are not relevant to their daily operations and be financially straining for volunteer crews.”
Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) also signed the letter.
The proposed rule aims to replace the fire brigade standard from 1980 but raises concerns about volunteer crews' ability to meet new training hour requirements.
A full copy of the letter can be found here.
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