HB 2369 - DIGEST

     Requires the director, in consultation with the WISHA advisory committee, to establish a program to provide safety and health impact grants to prevent injuries and illnesses, save lives, and educate Washington employees and employers about workplace hazards and safe workplace practices.

     Provides that, using a competitive application process, the department shall award safety and health impact grants to trade associations, business associations, employers, employee organizations, labor unions and groups of employees.  The grants may include:  (1) Education and training grants to implement safety and health and to provide practical information, curricula, materials, and methods intended for use by employers and employees in reducing workplace hazards;

     (2) technical innovation grants to develop engineering and other technical solutions to injury and illness problems;

     (3) best practice grants for the application of hazard control; or

     (4) state-wide priority grants to undertake innovative programs that address state-wide safety and health priorities established by the WISHA advisory committee.

     Requires the director to appoint a safety and health impact grant review committee that will be a subcommittee of the WISHA advisory committee.

     Requires the department and the safety and health impact grant review committee to present an annual review regarding the activities of the safety and health impact grant program to the WISHA advisory committee, the workers' compensation advisory committee, and make it available to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature.

     Requires the director and representatives from the WISHA advisory committee to perform a comprehensive review of the grant program which shall include, but not be limited to, reported outcomes, injury reduction, and safety awareness and shall issue a report for the legislature by December 31, 2004.