SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5486

BYSenators Warnke, Rinehart, Williams, Talmadge, Bender, Vognild, Wojahn and McDermott

Authorizing the department of labor and industries to adopt rules governing conditions of work for video terminal operators.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 5, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5486 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Warnke, Chairman; Smitherman, Vice Chairman; Lee, Tanner, Vognild, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Mark McDermott (786-7429)

                  March 6, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR, MARCH 5, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The increasing use of video display terminals (VDTs) in the workplace has raised concerns about the health and safety of terminal operators.  The Department of Labor and Industries has issued voluntary guidelines for VDT employees and employers, but mandatory requirements have not been adopted.

SUMMARY:

"Terminal operator" is defined as an employee who normally operates a video display terminal (VDT) for four or more hours per day.

All employers of terminal operators are required to provide workplace conditions and training consistent with rules adopted by the Department of Labor and Industries.  Programs must include: information about precautions that may be taken to minimize hazards; training in the proper and safe use of the equipment; provisions for the vision health and safety of terminal operators, including both a comprehensive vision test prior to starting work on a terminal and follow-up testing.

Department rules must include prescribed standards for terminal readability factors; ergonomic qualities; environmental lighting and noise; and job design.  Rules must address rest breaks for operators engaged in continuous terminal work for more than sixty minutes duration.

An employer must provide a transfer to a nonterminal job when work is available if an operator requests a temporary transfer based on a health concern substantiated by a health care provider.

Any violation of the act or rules will be subject to penalty under the Washington Industrial Health and Safety Act (WISHA).  Each day of continuing violation constitutes a separate violation.

The Department is required to report to the Legislature by January 1, 1988, on recommended safety precautions and regulations developed under the act.

If any provision of the act is held invalid, the remainder of the act is not affected.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The definition of employer is restricted to all nonfederal governmental employers in the state.

The requirement of a five minute break every hour of continuous VDT operation is changed to the Department developing rules concerning frequent periodic breaks.

The Department shall report to the Legislature by January 1, 1989 regarding the impact and cost of implementing the adopted standards.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Susan Johnson, SEIU; Walt Rostykus, American Electronics Association; Robert Bell, Washington State Nurses Association; Jan Wiley-Gee, AWB