Background:

Washington is a "state plan state" under the the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (Act). As a state plan state, Washington assumes responsibility for occupational safety and health in the state under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA). To maintain its status, Washington's safety and health standards must be at least as effective as those standards adopted or recognized under the Act. The Department of Labor and Industries (Department) administers the WISHA.

The Director of the Department (Director) may inspect and investigate work places. If the Director believes that an employer has violated a safety or health standard, the Director must issue a citation. Civil penalties range from up to $7,000 for a non-serious violation to up to $70,000 for a willful or repeated violation. Appeals of citations are heard by the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (Board). However, the Director may reassume jurisdiction for a redetermination before the Board hears the matter. Employees and employee representatives have an opportunity to participate in the Board hearing and object to or support the Director's reassumption of jurisdiction.

Criminal penalties are established for certain violations. If the Director has reasonable cause to believe that a crime has occurred, the Director must refer the case to the appropriate prosecuting attorney. Criminal penalties range from a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months (or both) for a person who gives advance notice of an inspection, to a fine of not more than $200,000 or imprisonment of not more than 364 days (or both) for a second or subsequent conviction for a willful and knowing violation that caused death.

Under standards adopted by the Department, all employers must have an accident prevention program and must train employees about hazards. By rule, employers with 11 or more employees on the same shift at the same location must establish a safety committee. Other employers may hold a safety meeting instead of establishing a safety committee.

A person may not discharge or otherwise discriminate against an employee who files a complaint or testifies in a WISHA proceeding, or because of certain other actions. A person who believes he or she has been discriminated against may file a complaint with the Director within 30 days after the violation. If the Director determines that a violation has occurred, the Director must bring an action in superior court. If the Director determines that a violation has not occurred, the employee may bring an action. The superior court has jurisdiction to restrain violations and order all appropriate relief, including rehiring or reinstatement and back pay.

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Summary of Bill:

Penalties.

Civil and criminal penalties are increased for violations of the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) and additional penalties are created.

Civil Penalties.

Willful or Repeated Violation. The maximum penalty is increased from $70,000 to $120,000, and the minimum penalty for a willful violation is increased from $5,000 to $8,000. A minimum penalty of $8,000 also applies to a repeat serious violation. A new penalty is created for a violation that caused death, which has a maximum penalty of $250,000, and a minimum penalty of $50,000.
Serious Violation. The maximum penalty is increased from $7,000 to $12,000. A new penalty is created for a violation that caused death, which has a maximum penalty of $50,000, and a minimum penalty of $20,000. A $10,000 minimum penalty applies to an employer with 25 or fewer employees.
Non-serious Violation. The maximum penalty is increased from $7,000 to $12,000.
Failure to Correct. The maximum penalty is increased from $7,000 to $12,000 per day.
Violation of Posting Requirements. The maximum penalty is increased from $7,000 to $12,000.

At least once every four years, the Director must adjust the penalty amounts based on the percentage increase or decrease in the Consumer Price Index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers, as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Criminal Penalties.

Give Advance Notice of Inspection. The crime is changed from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony, with a maximum fine of $250,000 or a maximum two-year prison term, or both.
Knowingly Make Any False Statement. The crime is changed from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony, with a maximum fine of $250,000 or a maximum two-year prison term, or both.
Willfully and Knowingly Violate Any Requirement that Caused Death. The crime is changed from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony, with a maximum fine of $250,000 or a maximum 10-year prison term, or both. A subsequent conviction is changed to a class A felony, with a maximum fine of $250,000 or a maximum prison term of 20 years, or both.
Continuing Practice After Order to Restrain. The crime is changed from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony, with a maximum fine of $250,000 or a maximum five-year prison term, or both.
Knowingly Remove a Safety Device. The crime is changed from a misdemeanor to a class C felony, with a maximum fine of $250,000 or a maximum two-year prison term, or both.

A new crime is created for willfully and knowingly violating any requirement that caused serious bodily injury, but did not cause death. The crime is a class C felony, with a maximum fine of $250,000 and a maximum five-year prison term, or both. For a subsequent conviction, the maximum fine is $250,000 and the maximum prison term is 10 years.

Safety Committees.

Requirements are established for employers that are required by law to establish a safety committee or choose to do so. The employer must provide at least eight hours of safety and health training, to include hazard identification and control, to committee members within three months of appointment and then annually. Trainers and class content must meet requirements established by the Department of Labor and Industries (Department). The training must be in addition to but may be combined with training programs provided to all employees under an accident prevention program. The safety committee must: (1) identify situations that may be a source of danger or hazard to workers; (2) make recommendations to improve the safety and health of workers; and (3) recommend the establishment, maintenance, and monitoring of programs, measures, and procedures respecting the safety and health of workers. An employer must respond to recommendations in writing in 21 or fewer calendar days.

At least one employer and one employee member of a safety committee must conduct inspections at least once every three months to ensure that prompt action is taken to correct any hazardous condition found. Written reports of inspections must be provided to and reviewed by the full safety committee within 45 days of the inspection.

New Employees.

At the time of hiring and before beginning work, an employer must provide each new employee with written information about employee rights under the WISHA. The information must include the right to: request a workplace inspection; receive information and training about hazards; receive copies of test results done to find hazards; review records of injuries and illnesses; get copies of medical records; and exercise rights without fear of retaliation or discrimination. The Department must develop and make available materials to assist employers in complying with the requirement.

Victim Rights.

The Director of the Department (Director) must take certain actions at the request of a victim. A "victim" is an employee who sustained serious physical harm that is the subject of an inspection or investigation, or the victim's family member if the employee is killed or cannot reasonably exercise the employee's rights. The Director must: (1) meet with the victim before the Director decides whether to issue a citation; (2) provide to the victim: (a) a copy of any citation or report at no cost; (b) notice of any employer appeal; and (c) an explanation of the right to participate in any appeal; and (3) provide the victim an opportunity to appear and make a statement before the parties conducting any settlement negotiations during reassumption of jurisdiction by the Director or an appeal before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. The opportunity to make a statement must take place before the Director agrees to modify or withdraw a citation. The Director must establish procedures to inform victims of their rights and for the informal review of any claim of denial of a right. The requirements also apply to the representatives of victims.

Discrimination.

The time to file a discrimination complaint is increased from 30 to 180 days.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) At a minimum there should be an inflation index for the penalties. This bill is proactive and brings safety into this century. This bill will bring down costs and protect workers. A worker sustains a serious injury every 15 minutes. We are open to discussing criminal penalties.

Penalties are currently trivial. When a sulphuric tank blew up and killed workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fine was $175,000 but the Environmental Protection Agency fine was $12 million. In Washington, the penalty is only $7,000. The OSHA is requiring Washington to increase penalties but this will only result in an average penalty of $2,000. Statutory change is needed to change the maximums.

Safety committees are important tools to reduce injuries. In one workplace, a safety committee was responsible for reducing injuries by almost half by changing the safety culture. The bill empowers safety committees to make changes and helps get safety resources into the workplace. A committee would have the authority to inspect a workplace.

New employees have been seriously injured. An orientation would help reduce injuries. If new employees get notice of their rights, it may cut down on them calling their union and fear of retaliation.

At what point is it cheaper to pay the penalties than fix the problem, like the Ford Pinto exploding gas tanks? Workplaces should be made safer as a way to reduce costs rather than chip away at benefits.

(Opposed) This bill is drastic and unreasonable. Employers take safety seriously. The penalties are punitive and arbitrary rather than proactive. One crime changes the burden of proof and the retaliation provision has a double jeopardy element.

The safety and notice sections could be broken out.

The Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) Advisory Committee is working in a collaborative way to meet the OSHA's standard on penalties. That work should be allowed to continue. Passing this bill could hinder those efforts.

Failure to have a notice posted could result in a $12,000 fine. Workers rip these down. Employers get cited for a general, unclear rule about keeping workplace free from hazards. The bill is inconsistent with laws giving small businesses a chance to correct violations.