SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1992

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Commerce & Labor, February 26, 1998

Title:  An act relating to workplace safety rule implementation.

Brief Description:  Implementing workplace safety rules.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives McMorris, Honeyford, Clements and Thompson).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce & Labor:  3/24/97, 3/27/97 [DP]; 2/19/98, 2/26/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Schow, Chair; Horn, Vice Chair; Anderson, Franklin, Fraser, Heavey and Newhouse.

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786-7428)

Background:  The Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) is administered and enforced by the Department of Labor and Industries, and applies to most private and public workplaces in Washington.  The department adopts rules governing safety and health standards for workplaces covered under the act.  Under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the state is authorized to assume responsibility for occupational safety and health standards , which must be at least as effective as those adopted under OSHA.  Under the Administrative Procedure Act, the department must make specific determinations when adopting a significant legislative rule.

Summary of Bill:  The director of the Department of Labor and Industries must convene a meeting of persons impacted by the department=s adoption of significant legislative rules no later than 20 business days before the rules take effect.  The meeting is to address problem areas and ambiguities in the rule, education, public relations, training, enforcement, and appropriate mechanisms for evaluating the rule=s effectiveness.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This will streamline the process for inspectors and employers and help remove ambiguities before implementation.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Mielke; Mike Patrick, Washington State Council of Police Officers; Michael Silverstein, L&I; Amber Balch, AWB; DeDi Hitchens, NFIB.