Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
Conn OSHA has fined the Bridgeport Fire Department a total of $5,000 for safety violations occurring at the July 24, 2010 fire that killed Lieutenant Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michael Baik. Both Lt. Velasquez, 40, and FF Baik, 49, died from smoke inhalation, although Baik’s death was complicated by an underlying heart condition.
Conn OSHA is part of the Connecticut Department of Labor. Connecticut has a public-sector only OSH plan, meaning that the state OSHA enforces Federal OSHA regulations against state and local employers, but has no jurisdiction over private sector entities. In citing the Bridgeport Fire Department, Conn OSHA listed five separate violations:
1. Non-compliance with department’s Mayday policy cited as a general duty clause violation (recognized hazard).
2. SCBA cylinders were not hydrostatically tested under 29 CFR 1910.101.
3. Failure to provide annual fit testing as required under 29 CFR 1910.134.
4. Failure to provide annual medical examinations for personnel using SCBA in violation of 29 CFR 1910.134.
5. Failure to ensure personnel wore SCBA while engaged in interior structural firefighting in violation of 29 CFR 1910.134.
Each violation incurred a $1,000 fine for the $5,000 total.
Here is a copy of the violation notice. Download BridgeportOSHA
Other investigations into the deaths are still underway.
