Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
George Beary, a retired Chicago firefighter who served for 38 years, recalls the constant sound of sirens as he rode on the back of firetrucks. Since retiring in 2005, Beary, who now leads a committee of retired firefighters, has been dealing with tinnitus — a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears that many first responders suffer from due to prolonged exposure to loud noises.
Beary, a former vice president of the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, is one of around 4,400 current and former firefighters across the U.S. who have filed lawsuits against Federal Signal, an Illinois-based company that produces emergency sirens. They claim the company failed to make its sirens safer for those inside firetrucks. Since 1999, Beary and approximately 700 Chicago firefighters have taken legal action. While some cases have been settled or dismissed, about 500 remain active in court.
The firefighters argue that Federal Signal could have designed sirens in a way that reduces noise exposure in the crew areas of fire engines, where the sound can reach up to 120 decibels — similar to a live rock concert. This level of noise, they say, poses a serious risk to hearing over time.
Federal Signal, however, maintains that their sirens are designed to be heard by pedestrians and drivers, which is their primary function. The company also points out that it has long encouraged firefighters to use ear protection, as recommended by many fire departments.
David Duffy, an attorney representing Federal Signal, cited studies showing that the average noise level firefighters are exposed to during their shifts — including siren use — is below 85 decibels, which is considered safe under federal guidelines.
The legal battles have spread across multiple cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Boston, New Jersey, and the Chicago area. Marc Bern, the lead attorney in these cases, noted that while some juries have ruled in favor of Federal Signal, others have found the company liable. In some instances, the company has settled without admitting fault. One of the largest settlements, in 2011, involved paying $3.6 million to 1,069 firefighters in Philadelphia.
Experts like Rick Neitzel, a researcher at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, point out that current noise regulations were developed for traditional industrial jobs, not for firefighting, where exposure is often short but extremely intense and repeated over long shifts. He argues that the existing standards may not fully account for the unique risks faced by emergency responders.
Thanks, Dan
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