S.Amdt. 5966

SA 5966, submitted by Mr. Schiff, aims to add a section regarding safety standards for wildland firefighters to bill S. 4784.

The amendment focuses on the following changes and additions:

• Respiratory Protection: It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to work with other agencies and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group to create a strategy for making respiratory personal protective equipment commercially available. The Secretary must determine the appropriate equipment for use when smoke exposure exceeds limits set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

• Requirements for Use: The "Secretary concerned" (which includes the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense) must require wildland firefighters and supporting staff to use this equipment when smoke exposure limits are surpassed.

• Ongoing Review: The Secretary must periodically review safety and protective equipment standards. This includes developing specific exposure limits if existing ones are not tailored to wildland firefighting settings and incorporating the most recent edition of standard NFPA 1984.

• Scope and Funding: These standards apply to Department of Defense installations and cases where Department of Defense personnel provide mutual aid. The amendment also authorizes the necessary funds to carry out these requirements.