Letter: Don’t blame unions for overtime issues

Friday, March 2, 2007 | 7:11 a.m.

I read the Las Vegas Sun's Feb. 28 article, "County grapples with overtime." I take exception to Clark County Manager Virginia Valentine's statements. The Sun reported: "Both Valentine and (County Fire Chief Steve) Smith said the overtime issue is complicated by a union contract with the firefighters that, among other things, guarantees minimum staffing to operate certain trucks and equipment."

This statement implies that the union is responsible for setting these staffing levels and, therefore, is responsible for the overtime generated by the staffing requirements contained in the contract. The fact is that the staffing levels contained in the union contract are based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 1710 and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 1910.134(g) (3) and (4).

NFPA 1710 recommends that each company (engine, ladder and squad) shall consist of four firefighters for fighting standard fires and six firefighters for hazardous or high-risk incidents. In short, NFPA recommends that fire engines have a minimum of four firefighters onboard when they respond to calls.

Further, when entry into a building is deemed necessary, OSHA 1910.134(g) (3) and (4) requires that a minimum of two firefighters enter the building together. The standard goes on to state that there shall be a minimum of two additional firefighters suited up outside the building in the event the first two firefighters need rescue. This is known as the 2 in/2 out rule.

Both these standards were adopted by Nevada OSHA. Therefore, it is Nevada OSHA, not a union contract, that determines staffing levels.

Scott Culshaw, Pahrump

The writer was a firefighter/emergency medical technician in the Northern Nevada town of Winnemucca and in Dudleyville, Ariz.