Message from the President: An update on OSHA 1910.156

September 23, 2026

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in December 2023 published proposed regulation 19150.156. Over forty years had passed since the last revision to the regulation; it is outdated and certainly needed revision. However, the proposed federal document is extremely restrictive, and your Association participated in numerous hearings and comment periods to try and alter or affect the content to better reflect South Carolina fire services. The new federal regulation is scheduled to be released in April 2027.

Additionally, because South Carolina is an ‘OSHA state,’ your Association recognized that we could further affect this regulation by proactively engaging in creating our own ‘South Carolina’ regulation in conjunction with partner agencies and improving the federal proposed language. The Association has worked diligently with all other possible groups over the past two years, held numerous statewide stakeholder meetings, discussed about and taught on the issue at all Association training events, posted information on the Association website, and ultimately has now developed in conjunction with our partner stakeholders version 40 of the state plan.

This two-year effort is intended to place South Carolina ahead of the federal adoption of the spring of 2027 and ensure that our firefighters are safe and our delivery systems protected. If a state plan is not in place within 6 months after a federal regulation is released, the federal regulation becomes South Carolina law. Your Association Executive Committee and staff believe that we are near to the point of ‘South Carolina Plan’ document perfection and need your familiarization and involvement. SC LLR / OSHA has filed an intent to promulgate this drafted regulation, and the process of legislative adoption for the SC Plan will begin in early 2027.

We need your help.

As with any new regulation, fear and trepidation will exist. However, we feel a viable and realistic document now exists, and we ask for your support, familiarization, and feedback. Often, we are our own worst enemy in not communicating or sharing and allowing the feedback of “I didn’t know about this” to perpetuate and grow. We want you to be informed. To accomplish this:

• Go to the Association web page: https://scfirefighters.org/advocacy/changes-to-osha-firefighter-standards/
• Read the regulation. Don’t assume you know the contents.
• Meet with your local response community and discuss the regulation as written and compare it to the federal document.
• Ask for help in discernment – get the Association to your local meetings to discuss and present this topic.
• Attend the Association fall quarterly meeting or the FSIC to get more information on the regulatory adoption process and content of this proposal.

Bottom line: Get involved.

We need your understanding and appreciation of the impact of this new regulation and how your delivery system can address any concerns you may have. The Association believes this to be a major positive step forward for the safety of our members and for the future of the fire service of this state. We look forward to a safer and brighter future with your participation.