OHS Regulation expands firefighter health-and-safety rules to cover broader 'fire personnel' category

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation's Part 31 provisions previously applied to 'firefighters.' The amendment introduces a new defined term, 'fire personnel,' covering workers (paid or volunteer) engaged in firefighting, fire inspection, fire investigation, equipment maintenance, training, and direction of those activities — groups that were not explicitly captured by the old 'firefighter' definition. A new subsection clarifies that wherever Part 31 references 'firefighter,' that term now includes fire personnel as well. The definition of 'fire department' is also slightly reworded, and the application section is simplified to state plainly that the Part does not apply to forest firefighting. Organizations that employ or engage workers in fire-related roles — including inspection, investigation, and training — should review whether those workers now fall under Part 31 obligations and update their health and safety programs accordingly.

Who this affects
fire departments and fire authorities · volunteer fire organizations · fire inspection and investigation personnel · fire training coordinators · employers with in-house firefighting or fire safety teams