“A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to improve safety standards for wildland firefighters, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes safety standards for wildland firefighters (i.e., personnel under USDA Forest Service or Department of the Interior direction, including contractors) and supporting staff, requiring respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE) when smoke exposure exceeds covered permissible exposure limits established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Specifically, not later than one year after enactment, it directs the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Forest Service Chief), in coordination with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, Secretary of the Interior, and other agencies, to (1) develop a strategy ensuring commercial availability of appropriate respiratory PPE; (2) consult with NIOSH and OSHA to determine such PPE; and (3) require its use by the Secretary concerned (Agriculture or Interior). It further directs the Secretary of Agriculture to periodically review PPE and safety standards in consultation with NIOSH and OSHA, develop a tailored wildfire smoke exposure limit if existing limits are inadequate, and incorporate by reference the most recent NFPA 1984 standard on wildland firefighting respirators as necessary. It authorizes appropriations of such sums as necessary for each fiscal year.