HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6670

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Economic Development & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Lee, Owen, Warnke and Smith)

Revising provisions on public works projects involving certain trench excavations.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisher, Jones, R. King, O'Brien, Patrick, Sayan, C. Smith and Walker.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 6, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, trenches that are four feet or more in depth must have shoring or other bracing of sufficient strength to protect employees from cave-ins, unless the trench is in solid rock or compact shale.  Other trenches must use protections if there are indications that hazardous ground movement is possible.  The statutory requirements for public works contracts do not specify whether the contracts must include provisions for trench safety systems.

SUMMARY:

Public works contracts that include trench excavation work exceeding a depth of four feet must require adequate safety systems meeting the requirements of the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act.  The cost estimate and bidding forms must include the safety systems as a separate item. The costs of the trench safety system may not be considered as incidental to any other contract item.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Dick Ducharme, Utility Contractors Association of Washington; and Duke Schaub, Associated General Contractors.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Unless trench safety systems are specified in contracts, the bid price may not reflect the cost of the required safety system and the system, as built, may not be effective in providing worker safety. The bill should specify that the safety system cost cannot be considered incidental to other contract items.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.