For nearly four decades as a Chicago firefighter, George Beary was no stranger to the blaring sounds of emergency sirens while riding on the back of fire trucks. After retiring in 2005, Beary, now chairing a committee for retired firefighters, has been dealing with a persistent ringing in his ears due to a condition known as tinnitus. Beary, who previously served as the vice president of Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, is part of a group of around 4,400 current and former firefighters across the U.S. filing lawsuits against Federal Signal, an Oak Brook-based company that manufactures sirens. They claim the company failed to adequately address safety concerns related to these sirens. Since 1999, Beary estimates that approximately 700 Chicago firefighters have joined the legal battle, with only a fraction of the roughly 500 cases being resolved so far.

Firefighters argue that the design of the sirens could have been altered to direct the sound away from areas where they sit in the engine compartments, protecting them from deafening blasts that can reach up to 120 decibels—equivalent to the noise at a loud rock concert. Federal Signal counters that redirecting the sound would undermine one of the primary functions of a siren: alerting nearby vehicles and pedestrians to the approaching firetruck. Additionally, the company emphasizes that it has consistently recommended firefighters use ear protection, a common practice in many fire departments.

David Duffy, representing Federal Signal, pointed out that studies assessing the noise levels firefighters encounter during their shifts—including those produced by sirens—indicate an average exposure below 85 decibels. These lawsuits first emerged over a decade ago in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston, New Jersey, and the Chicago region. Marc Bern, leading these cases, noted in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that juries have generally ruled in favor of Federal Signal in the half-dozen or so cases that have reached trial. The company has also settled certain disputes without acknowledging liability. The largest settlement, finalized in 2011, involved a payment of $3.6 million to 1,069 firefighters regarding claims filed in Philadelphia.

Federal occupational standards consider both the intensity of the sound and how long workers are exposed to it. Higher decibel levels correspond to shorter permissible exposure times. Rick Neitzel, a researcher studying noise and other occupational hazards at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, explained that these guidelines were primarily developed for conventional industries like manufacturing, which often involve consistent, prolonged noise exposure. By contrast, firefighting involves intermittent but highly intense bursts of sound over varying shift lengths.

Thanks Dan!

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