DeSantis signs firefighter safety bill to expand protections on cancer risks and mental health

Tallahassee, Florida – At the 81st Annual Convention of the Florida Professional Firefighters in Palm Beach Gardens, Governor Ron DeSantis last week signed House Bill 929 to improve safeguards for Florida’s firefighters. The law is meant to make the health and safety of emergency responders across the state better.

DeSantis spoke to a room full of firefighters from all over Florida and talked about how hard the job is on both the body and the mind. He made it clear that the new law, HB 929, is not only about rules; it’s also about showing real support for the health and safety of firefighters, both on and off the work.

The new law introduces several significant changes to how firefighter health and safety is managed in Florida. One of the most important changes is that the Florida Firefighters Occupational Safety and Health Act has been expanded. HB 929 now clearly includes occupational diseases and suicide prevention as areas of focus. This is a big step toward more complete care.

The bill’s main goal is to have the Division of the State Fire Marshal at the Department of Financial Services come up with and implement clearer guidelines that would help people avoid dangerous situations at work. This means that all fire departments must switch to protective gear that doesn’t contain any dangerous substances as soon as it becomes available for purchase. Firefighters must also be told whether their current gear includes any harmful chemicals. This is an extra step to be open and careful.

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Mental health is another important issue that the law deals with. The Division of the State Fire Marshal will now keep an eye on firefighters’ mental health, with a focus on the risk of suicide. There are plans in place to make sure that firefighters have access to tools and information for prevention and support.

The bill also limits the number of hours firefighters may work each week to 42, which should help keep them from getting burned out. This change is aimed to help with the long hours and heavy workloads that might lead to tiredness and mental health problems in the field.

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Governor DeSantis’s most recent measures are part of a long history of support for Florida’s first responders. He has given money to help firemen with cancer and to help people after hurricanes in the past. His administration has also pushed for more money for injuries that happen during training, and they suggested a budget that includes pay hikes of more than $118 million for first responders, with a big raise for state-employed firefighters.

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Florida takes another step toward making sure its firefighters are safe at all times, not just during emergencies, with the signing of HB 929.