Judge Won't Halt Detroit FD's Blood, Fluids Cleanup Policy
Source Firehouse.com News
A request by Detroit's firefighters union to stop the city's policy requiring emergency responders to scrub up blood and other bodily fluids at emergency scenes was rejected by a judge this week.
Along with not granting the Detroit Fire Fighter Association a temporary injunction against the cleaning policy, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Hathaway ruled Wednesday that the Michigan Employment Relations Commission deal with the complaint, The Detroit News reports. Under the policy, firefighters and other first responders must hose away human fluids from accident, crime and other emergency scenes and then flush the liquid down sewer drains. Contaminated material, such as bloody clothing, also must be collected in special bags.
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Since the city issued the cleaning policy in March, the union has contended that the practices outlined create unnecessary health risks for its members, potentially exposing them to blood-borne pathogens, such as hepatitis and HIV. Union President Mike Nevin also called Hathaway's decision a "disservice" to first responders and the public.
"This work is not germane to firefighters. It's not what firefighters do," he told the News. "If they want us to do different kind of work or add something to our workload, let’s do it right. Train them. Let’s do it in a professional, humane manner."
Detroit Chief of Department Robert Distelrath applauded Wednesday's ruling, and the department has maintained that first responders have received the proper training and have been outfitted with the appropriate protective gear and equipment when it comes to implementing the cleanup policy safely. Distelrath also clarified that while the city issued the policy in writing last month, the practices detailed in the document have been standard procedure for years.
"We're going to continue to operate in a safe manner to protect the citizens and the firefighters and continue about our business," he told the News.
Both sides will return to court for a hearing next week, according to the News.
