Occupational Safety & Health

Nova Scotia OHS Division Files Charges Against Fire School Over LODD

Nova Scotia's Occupational Health and Safety Division has cited the Nova Scotia Firefighting School with two charges in connection with the death of a firefighter last year. Truro firefighter Skyler Blackie died on March 20, 2019, eleven days after he was injured in an explosion at the Nova Scotia Firefighting School.

Thirty Jacksonville Firefighters Challenge Clean Shaven Requirement

Thirty Jacksonville, Florida firefighters have filed suit claiming the department’s policy that SCBA qualified firefighters be clean-shaven discriminates against them on the basis of their race and disability. All thirty are African American firefighters who suffer from Pseudofolliculitis Barbae.

Burning Question: COVID 19 and HIPAA Hysteria

Today’s Burning Question: Does HIPAA allow first responders to be notified of critical information such as the addresses of positive covid-19 patients? Answer: HIPAA Hysteria… I do not know why HIPAA gets blamed for being a boogey-man, but HIPAA does not prohibit fire and EMS personnel from conveying necessary information to each other.

Coronavirus SARs-CoV-2 to be Added to Ryan White Act Disease Notification Requirements

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has undertaken steps to add the novel coronavirus, SARs-CoV-2, to the list of diseases that are subject to the emergency responder notification requirements of the Ryan White Act.

Washington State Supreme Court Allows Staffing Decision to Stand

The Supreme Court of Washington ruled last week that a decision by the Court of Appeals holding that staffing is a bargainable subject for firefighters, will not be overturned. The case was brought by the City of Everett in an effort to overturn a decision by the state’s PERC.

Fire Law Podcast 32: Legal Implications of Corona Virus COVID-19 and Quarantine

In this episode, Curt and Bill Maccarone discuss the legal implication of the Corona Virus COVID-19 quarantine on fire departments and firefighters. Quarantine raises questions associated with sick leave, work-time, overtime, and workers compensation and all are discussed in the podcast.

Court Rules FDNY Must Accommodate Facial Hair Despite OSHA

A federal judge has ruled that FDNY must reinstate an accommodation granted to African American firefighters suffering from Pseudofolliculitis Barbae that permits facial hair in the chin, cheek and neck area provided it does not cause leakage around the mask's seal. The firefighters filed suit in 2018 alleging race and disability discrimination.

Birmingham Firefighter Sues Over Unsafe Condition of Station

A firefighter in Birmingham, Alabama has filed suit claiming conditions inside Station 27 violate the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Gary Michael Horsley Jr. claims the city has “condoned and tolerated unsafe and unhealthy working conditions” that include “asbestos exposure, mold exposure, diesel exhaust exposure... "

OSHA Cites UPS for Fire Code Violations at Massachusetts Facility

Federal OSHA has handed down fines totaling $431,517 against United Parcel Services for repeated fire code violations at their Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts facility. The citations issued last week involved for four repeated and seven serious safety violations.

Washington Appeals Court Rules Staffing Is Bargainable Subject

The Washington Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling by the Public Employment Relations Commission that staffing is a mandatory subject for bargaining when it has “a demonstratedly direct relationship” to firefighter workload and safety. The case involved an interest arbitration between IAFF Local 46 and the City of Everett.

Muslim Firefighter Challenges FDNY’s No Beard Rule

A Muslim FDNY firefighter who claims the city granted him a religious accommodation from its no beard requirement, and then without cause withdrew it last year, has filed a religious discrimination suit. Steven Daniel filed suit alleging the city’s refusal to continue to allow him to maintain “close-cropped facial hair” constitutes illegal religious discrimination.

More LA Firefighters Join SoCalGas Suit

A lawsuit filed last October by 29 Los Angeles firefighters against Southern California Gas Company is in the headlines again as word that additional firefighters are continuing to sign on to the suit. The suit alleges SoCalGas knowingly exposed the firefighters to hazardous levels of toxins like benzene and formaldehyde during a leak in 2015-2016 in Aliso Canyon, but concealed the dangers.

Buffalo Firefighter Sues City For Burn Injuries at Fire

A Buffalo firefighter who was injured last January in a house fire, has filed suit against the city claiming that numerous safety and health violations caused his injuries. Eric Whitehead suffered severe burns to both of his hands, which required him to undergo several surgeries and spend six weeks in the local burn unit

First Suit Filed Over Florida’s Firefighter Cancer Presumption Law

A St. Petersburg fire lieutenant who was diagnosed with cancer last year, and who was denied coverage under Florida’s newly enacted cancer presumption law, has filed suit. Lt. Jason Francis filed suit against the city of St. Petersburg. He filed for benefits under Florida Statutes 112.1816 on July 1, 2019, which incidentally was the day the law went into effect.

Page 3 of 14«1 234 5 » 10...Last »