S. 5433: Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act

This bill would create a federal effort to improve the health and safety of wildland firefighters, with a particular focus on reducing exposure to smoke, toxins, and cancer-related risks.

Main actions the bill would take

• Sets up task forces and advisory panels to help coordinate policy and research on wildland firefighter health and safety.
• Creates a federal program to support prevention, tracking, and treatment efforts related to occupational exposures and cancer risk.
• Provides funding for research and pilot projects, including testing respirators and other protective equipment for use in wildland firefighting conditions.
• Supports systems to track exposures, conduct medical surveillance, and improve decontamination procedures after firefighting operations.
• Directs the development of new workplace safety standards specifically for wildland firefighters.

OSHA requirements

The bill would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue both interim and final standards for protecting wildland firefighters. These standards would address:

• Health and safety plans
• Respiratory protection
• Exposure controls
• Training
• Decontamination procedures
• Medical monitoring
• Facilities for cleaning equipment and clothing

Workers’ compensation and oversight

The bill also adds special rules for workers’ compensation claims handling and reporting related to wildland firefighters, so that claims tied to occupational exposure and illness can be tracked more consistently. In addition, it requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how the program is working and report on its progress.

Relevant Companies

None found