Firefighters: personal protective equipment.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on costs or potential delays, leaving these points as speculative.

Firefighters' Protective Gear

This law requires California to review and update the rules for firefighters' protective gear every five years, focusing on making sure it is safe and effective.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to review National Fire Protection Association standards about firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) every five years starting July 1, 2018.
• The board must decide by July 1 of each year if changes are needed based on new safety standards that offer better protection than current rules.
• By January 1, 2028, the board needs to look at National Fire Protection Association performance standards for PPE and make sure these do not lead to using harmful substances in firefighting gear.
• The Division of Occupational Safety and Health must report by July 1, 2026, on how well they are implementing new safety standards for firefighter protective equipment.

Who It Names or Affects

• Firefighters who use personal protective equipment (PPE) in California.
• Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board responsible for setting safety rules.
• Division of Occupational Safety and Health which enforces these rules.

Terms To Know

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Equipment used by firefighters to protect themselves from hazards while on duty, such as helmets, gloves, boots, and protective clothing.

National Fire Protection Association

An organization that sets standards for fire safety equipment and practices in the United States.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if harmful substances are found to be used in firefighter PPE.
• It is unclear how much it will cost to implement these new rules.
• There may be delays in updating safety standards due to the review process.

Official Summary Text

AB 1181, Haney.
Firefighters: personal protective equipment.
The California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 provides the Division of Occupational Safety and Health within the Department of Industrial Relations with the power, jurisdiction, and supervision over all employment and places of employment necessary to enforce and administer all occupational health and safety laws and to protect employees. The act grants to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, an independent entity within the department, exclusive authority to adopt occupational safety and health standards within the state.
Beginning July 1, 2018, and every 5 years thereafter, the act requires the board, in consultation with the department, to complete a comprehensive review of all revisions to National Fire Protection Association standards pertaining to certain personal protective equipment (PPE) and requires the
board to consider modifying existing safety orders and to render a decision regarding the adoption of necessary changes to safety orders, or other applicable standards and regulations, no later than July 1 of the subsequent year, if the review finds that the revisions to applicable National Fire Protection Association standards provide a greater degree of personal protection than the safety orders.
This bill would, in addition to the above-described requirement, require the board to consider modifying its existing safety order regarding firefighter personal protective equipment by January 1, 2028, to address National Fire Protection Association performance standards for PPE that are not relevant or applicable to how firefighters utilize their PPE and that result in the
use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, fluoropolymers, flame retardants, and other hazardous substances in firefighting personal protective garments and auxiliary firefighting PPE, as provided. The bill would also require, by July 1, 2026, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to report on progress toward implementation of the modified PPE safety standards, as provided. The bill would also make related findings and declarations.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF