Occupational Safety & Health

Following the release of an internal investigation into the death of a Philadelphia firefighter in December, the firefighter’s family is speaking out demanding that criminal charges be filed against those in the department who were responsible. FF Joyce Craig was killed on December 9, 2014 at a basement fire where she was separated from her crew. She activated the emergency button on her radio but was not located for another 17 minutes.

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Here is a follow up to the story we covered last week with regards to the Glendale, Arizona firefighters who were disciplined for using excessive force against a man who assaulted them. The family of James Murillo has filed a multi-million dollar claim against the City of Glendale, Captain Sean Alford and Acting Captain Daniel Padilla, claiming the firefighters assaulted and verbally abused the mentally ill man last October.

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Today’s burning question: My crew was on an EMS run and the patient took a swing at us. Can we hit him back to defend ourselves? Answer: You can defend yourself, yes. If striking the patient is necessary to defend yourself, then yes you can strike the patient without being liable for battery. However, you cannot strike the patient in retaliation for him swinging or striking you, nor can you strike the patient out of frustration… even if he swung first!!!

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Four St. Petersburg, Florida firefighters filed suit against Mine Safety Appliances and a local vendor earlier this month claiming that their Cairns 1044 fire helmets injured their necks and backs. They join firefighter Scott Crowell who filed the identical suit in 2013.

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Yesterday a jury in New York awarded a severely injured firefighter $10.6 million in damages against Scott Technologies, and agreed to reconvene today to consider an award of punitive damages. However, in a settlement announced this afternoon, the parties agreed ...

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The State of Kentucky has fined the Campbellsville Fire and Rescue Department $25,000 following it’s investigation into the Ice Bucket Challenge related death of Captain Tony Grider last August. The incident occurred as firefighters were assisting the Campbellsville University marching band by spraying them with water from an aerial platform as part of an ALS Ice Bucket Challenge fundraiser.

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A firefighter from Eugene, Oregon who was injured during a training exercise in 2012 is suing an SCBA manufacturer and a local vendor. David Pickett, 35, was injured on December 19, 2012 when an MSA Firehawk M7 SCBA malfunctioned causing an explosion that he claims seriously damaged his hearing.

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The Winston-Salem Fire Department has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the North Carolina Department of Labor over three OSHA violations. Two of the citations were considered serious, incurring $3250 fines each. The third was consider not serious and no fine was imposed.

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Today’s burning question: Our union has been fighting for a cancer presumption provision in our collective bargaining agreement for years to no avail. We have even started working at the state level to get legislation enacted. Isn’t there a way we can force the city to accept the obvious: that firefighting increases the risk of contracting cancer?

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An attorney well known for his advocacy of aerial drones filed three lawsuits last Friday against the FAA challenging a directive issued in June that extends the government’s ban on the commercial use of drones and limits the use of video technology that allows the operator to see what the drone sees. One of the suits uses a firefighter safety argument to make the point that the FAA's plan is flawed.

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A California fire protection district that a CalOSHA investigator characterized as “acting like a bunch of 2-year-olds in a pissing match”, has reached a settlement with the state and a former fire district board member.

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The family of a Texas firefighter who died while undergoing advance training characterized as “a fraternity-style hazing ritual [intended] to sort out which firefighters were ‘tough’ enough” has filed a multi-million dollar wrongful death suit against those responsible for the ...

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A Florida firefighter who lost an eye as a child, is suing because his department has prohibited him from seeking promotion. Firefighter Bill Miller filed suit against the Fort Myers Fire Department. NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral

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Today’s burning question: Our union agreed to a physical fitness program and now the administration is threatening to discipline members who they feel have not been participating enough. Can they do that? Answer: As a general rule, a fire chief ...

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