Fire brigade physical-capability guidance under 29 CFR 1910.156

February 22, 1991

Mr. Richard H. Timms
Chief
Seneca Fire Department
City of Seneca
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Chief Timms:

Thank you for your letter of January 11, which was addressed to the Compliance Division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Compliance Division forwarded your letter to the Office of State Programs because South Carolina has an OSHA approved State Plan.

I understand that Helen Rogers of my staff spoke with you and you informed her that your question concerning respirators for fire-fighters has already bean resolved.

With regard to your question concerning compliance with 29 CFR 1910.156(b)(2), I understand that you asked South Carolina's Department of Labor for compliance guidelines and that South Carolina referred you to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), who in turn referred you to the Compliance Division of OSHA.

~~OSHA has not published any guidelines or interpretations for Subpart L - Fire Protection, of the OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.155 through 1910.165,separate from the appendixes following the standard.~~

[This document was edited on 8/12/99 to strike information that no longer reflects current OSHA policy.]

Appendix A - Fire Protection, which follows Subpart L, defines "physically capable" as "being able to perform those duties specified in the training requirements of section 1910.156(c), and can also be determined by physical performance tests or by a physical examination when the examining physician is aware of the duties that the fire brigade member is expected to perform."

As the note preceding the appendices to Subpart L states, the appendices, except Appendix E, serve as non-mandatory guidelines to assist employers in complying with the appropriate requirements off the standard.