Safety; firefighter employer responsibilities.

(1) Each firefighter employer shall furnish and use safety devices and safeguards, adopt and use methods and processes reasonably adequate to render such an employment and place of employment safe, and do every other thing reasonably necessary to protect the lives, health, and safety of such firefighter employees. As used in this section, the terms “safe” and “safety,” as applied to any employment or place of employment, mean such freedom from danger as is reasonably necessary for the protection of the lives, health, and safety of firefighter employees, including conditions and methods of sanitation and hygiene. Safety devices and safeguards required to be furnished by the firefighter employer by this section or by the division under authority of this section do not include personal apparel and protective devices that replace personal apparel normally worn by firefighter employees during regular working hours.

(2) The division shall adopt rules to establish:

(a) Employers’ cancer prevention best practices related to personal protective equipment, chemical hazards or toxic substance education regarding personal protective equipment, decontamination, fire suppression equipment, and fire stations.

(b) Employers’ mental health best practices related to resiliency, stress management, peer support, and access to mental health care.