In order to strengthen the occupational safety and health management mechanisms of firefighting agencies and enhance the occupational safety of firefighting personnel, Deputy Minister Wang Shang-Chih of the Ministry of Labor (MOL) and Deputy Minister Chen Tsung-Yen of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) signed the Memorandum of Cooperation for the Occupational Safety and Health of Firefighters on May 24, 2022. It was signed at the Central Emergency Operations Center with the three parties to the MOU present, namely the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the MOL, the Institute of Labor, Occupation Safety and Health of the MOL, and the National Fire Agency under the MOI. The MOU establishes a cooperative partnership, allows for sharing of resources among the three parties, and provides for joint assistance with domestic fire authorities in establishing occupational safety and health management standards for firefighting.

The MOL asserts that firefighting is closely connected to people's lives and safety, and that firefighting as a profession is not only complex and professional, but firefighters themselves are often caught in life-threatening situations as they work to protect people's lives and property. Although firefighters are not recognized as subjects of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, their safety is a part of occupational safety, and the most important mission of the Ministry of Labor is to protect the occupational safety as well as the physical and mental health of workers. Through the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation for the Occupational Safety and Health of Firefighters with the National Fire Agency under the Ministry of the Interior, the MOL will work to enhance the safety and health of firefighters and their working conditions.

The memorandum of understanding includes cooperative projects such as the establishment of a firefighting occupational safety and health management mechanism by the three parties, assisting domestic fire authorities in establishing occupational safety and health management standards for firefighting, training seed teachers, and forming teams of experts to counsel firefighting agencies to improve their occupational safety and health mechanisms. It is hoped that the combined capabilities of different agencies and domains will allow for implementation of safety and health measures for firefighters in Taiwan.

In addition, the Institute of Labor, Occupation Safety and Health of the MOL, in order to actively assist the National Fire Agency in establishing a firefighting occupational safety and health management mechanism, cooperated with the National Fire Agency of the MOI this year to conduct a preliminary research project entitled "Study on Establishing an Occupational Safety and Health Management Program for Domestic Firefighting," to train seed teachers, and to organize teams of experts to provide demonstration and counseling. Its aim is to move closer to creating a safe workplace culture and safer and healthier workplace conditions for firefighters.

Keywords: Occupational Safety and Health Management, Fire Agency Safety and Health, Memorandum of Cooperation

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the MOL, the Institute of Labor, Occupation Safety and Health of the MOL, and the National Fire Agency under the MOI

 signed the Memorandum of Cooperation for the Occupational Safety and Health of Firefighters - pictured are Deputy Minister Wang Shang-Chih of the MOL (4th from right) and Deputy Minister Chen Tsung-Yen of the MOI (center), among others