HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5405

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Parks & Ecology (originally sponsored by Senators Talmadge, Bluechel, Newhouse, Sellar, Benitz, McDonald and Cantu)

Defining "hazardous substance" for purposes of the worker and community right to know act.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Allen, Brekke, Ferguson, Jesernig, Lux, May, Pruitt, Schoon, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 14, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1984 the legislature passed the Worker and Community Right to Know Act establishing a program for disclosure of information regarding hazardous substances in the workplace.  The legislation exempted "consumer products", (products in the workplace commonly used by the public), but this section, along with many other sections, was vetoed.

The consumer product exemption was later included in regulations written by the Department of Labor and Industries.  The exemption was repealed by the department in 1985 in order to ensure consistency with federal regulations.

SUMMARY:

Consumer products are exempted from provisions of the Worker Right-to-Know Act if 1) the products are used by employees in the same manner as consumers commonly use the product, and 2) employee exposure is not substantially greater than a consumer's exposure.

The Department of Labor and Industries is directed to adopt rules to implement this provision.  This act will not affect the department's authority to implement state law in a manner consistent with federal law.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Gary Smith, Independent Business Association; and Donna Christensen, aide to Senator Talmadge.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Regulating consumer products as a hazardous substance creates a major burden for small businesses.  This bill will relieve small businesses of the burden while still providing adequate protection of employees.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.