RE: OSHA to cover state and local governments?

John Sansalone — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:39:51 GMT

The original OSHA law specifically excempted state and local employees ( I'm guessing to prevent the appearance of usurping States Rights, etc., though it made no logical sense from a purely safety perspective). Over time, some (most ?) states adopted the OSHA standards as being applicable to the excepted employees. In N. Y., it took about 10 years, and the creation of a state agency (PESH - for Public Employees Safety and Health). The OSHA standards were adopted by reference.

Don't know why this bill now. Perhaps there are some states that never adopted any such standards, and with the liability issues these days, and concerns about anthrax, resistant strains of various bugs, health care as a national issue, etc., maybe the Feds. just decided to do away with the patchwork approach. Assume that public employee unions are supporting it as well.

Would be interested if anyone else knows anything about this.

OSHA to cover state and local governments?

Dennis — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:32:53 GMT

I heard about this yesterday and thought I'd do a little research to verify.

A bill has been introduced in the House of (so-called) Representatives that would "amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide for coverage under that Act of employees of State and local governments."

The bill # is HR 1517. I copied the text below. (It's short and to the point). A little deeper research shows that the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections on 6/27/07.

I tried to add a link but it wouldn't work for some reason... You can do a search and find it easily.

(Could this be pending election results in 2008)?

Any thoughts on this?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1517

To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide for coverage under that Act of employees of State and local governments.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 14, 2007

Mr. ANDREWS (for himself, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. HARE, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, and Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide for coverage under that Act of employees of State and local governments.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Fairness for State and Local Workers Act'.

SEC. 2. COVERAGE OF STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES.

Section 3(5) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 652(5)) is amended--

(1) by inserting `including a State or political subdivision of a State,' after `employees,'; and

(2) by striking `or any State or political subdivision of a State'.

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RE: OSHA to cover state and local governments?

OSHA to cover state and local governments?

March 14, 2007

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

SEC. 2. COVERAGE OF STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES.