Labor department would set safety rules for public employers

The Department of Labor would adopt workplace safety rules at least as protective as specified federal standards. The standards would cover federal workplace rules in 29 C.F.R. part 1910, subparts D through Z, except subparts U, V, W, and X. The bill text identifies state and local public employers as covered. The commissioner may decide that a standard does not apply to an employer or is unnecessary to put in place. The commissioner may set the order and timing for putting standards in place through rulemaking. Applicable standards would have to reach that level within three years after this provision takes effect.

The commissioner would review implemented safety rules each year, update them when needed, keep a record, and recommend legal changes to the legislature when needed. Reviews would cover implemented standards and whether additional standards are needed. The commissioner would make the review record available to anyone who asks. The reviews would take place annually.

The labor commissioner could establish up to six full-time inspector positions and one full-time support position. The positions would be classified Department of Labor jobs: inspectors at labor grade 22 and support staff at grade 19. Pay and necessary operating costs would be charged to specified department funds in amounts and proportions proposed by the commissioner and approved by the Legislative Fiscal Committee. The act would take effect 60 days after passage.