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October 19, 2007
Firefighters' hearing-protection bill advances
Philadelphia firefighters would be outfitted with $500,000 worth of equipment to prevent hearing loss under a bill approved by a City Council committee yesterday.
Lt. Brian McBride, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22, said testing has confirmed that more than half of the city's firefighters have suffered "measurable hearing loss" during their careers. Hearing hazards include sirens, air horns, truck engines, and power tools, McBride testified before Council's Public Safety Committee yesterday.
McBride said it would cost about $500,000 to equip fire trucks with protective headphones, replacing the cheap foam earplugs that are difficult to remove when going into a fire in full equipment and prone to melting. Firefighters don't use ear protection inside a burning building, where they need to listen for trapped victims and communicate with one another.
The bill, sponsored by Councilman Jack Kelly, could be approved by the full Council within two weeks. - Jeff Shields
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/philadelphia/20071018_Firefighters_hearing-protection_bill_advances.html
Posted by 4HL on October 19, 2007 8:56 AM
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