Ryan White Act

Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990, Subtitle-B Emergency Response Employee Notification Summary The Ryan White CARE Act, Subtitle B contains provisions for the notification of emergency response personnel exposed to infectious diseases while attending, treating, assisting, or transporting a victim.

SCBA Use Medical Requirements

SCBA Use and Medical Requirements OSHA Respiratory Protection Regulations In January 1998, the revised Standard for Respiratory Protection was signed as an OSHA regulation. The new federal standard replaces the respiratory protection standards adopted by federal OSHA in 1971.

CDC Tuberculosis Guidelines

CDC Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Facilities Summary On October 28, 1994 the CDC issued guidelines for tuberculosis prevention. The intent of the CDC draft guidelines is similar to that of the OSHA enforcement guidelines on Tuberculosis.

Medical Records Confidentiality

Medical Records Confidentiality and Fire Fighters Introduction A critical aspect of the development and operation of an occupational medicine program is the confidentiality of medical information.

Family Medical Leave Act

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, administers and enforces the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for all private, state and local government employees, and some federal employees.

The Public Safety Officers Benefits Act, (42 USC 3796, Public Law 94-430) became law on September 29, 1976. The legislation provided for a $50,000 death benefit for fire fighters (paid and volunteer) and law enforcement officers that died in the line-of-duty (emergency or non-emergency) from a traumatic injury.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) PUBLIC SAFETY EXEMPTION The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) permanently exempts fire fighters, emergency medical personnel, and police officers from the federal ban on age limits and employment.

Loudermill Rights A U.S. Supreme Court decision somewhat similar to Weingarten occurred in 1985, with the case of Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill. This decision established what have come to be called “Loudermill Rights” for public employees. Loudermill Rights apply to incidents of involuntary termination.

FIFTH AMENDMENT APPLIES TO INTERROGATIONS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES Public employees have certain constitutional rights that apply in their employment that may not apply to private employees.

Employees’ right to request their representatives are frequently referred to as “Weingarten rights.” Employers violate the NLRA if they proceed with an investigatory interview while refusing an employee’s request or retaliate against them for making the request.

This provision requires that at least two employees enter the Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere and remain in visual or voice contact with each other at all times. It also requires that at least two employees be located outside the IDLH atmosphere, thus the term, “two in/two out”.