6404-S AMS SHED S5127.1

SSB 6404 (S-5117.2/00) - S AMD - 252

By Senators T. Sheldon, Rossi, West and Honeyford

S&O REQUESTED - WITHDRAWN; NOT ADOPTED 3/5/00; ROLL CALL VOTE 23-225

    On page 86, after line 8, insert the following:

    "(4)(a) The director shall only use funds appropriated in this section to conduct pilot programs pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW to measure and test the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost of the department's proposed rule to provide safety and health standards for musculoskeletal disorders caused by awkward postures, high hand force, repetitive motion, repeated impacts, awkward lifting, vibration, or similar physical tasks.

(b) The department shall conduct pilot programs with interested private and public employers, including, but not limited to, the following state agencies:

(i) Department of labor and industries;

(ii) Department of general administration;

(iii) Department of ecology;

(iv) Department of transportation;

(v) Employment security department;

(vi) Department of corrections;

(vii) Department of revenue; and

(viii) Department of social and health services.

(c) No later than December 31, 2003, the department shall report to the legislature the results of the pilot programs.  The report shall include:

(i) Ease of understanding and compliance;

(ii) Identification of ambiguities and difficulties encountered during implementation;

(iii) Injury reduction, including comparison to injury rates for prior years; and

(iv) Costs of compliance with rules, including direct and indirect costs.

(d) In order to more accurately reflect private sector circumstances, state agencies shall use current appropriations to implement the pilot programs.

(e) Until the department has reported to the legislature, the director shall not use funds appropriated in this section to propose or adopt safety and health standards for musculoskeletal disorders for Washington employers covered by chapter 49.17 RCW.

(f) Nothing in this section prevents the department from using funds appropriated in this section to work with employer and employee organizations to:

(i) Develop voluntary guidelines;

(ii) Identify industry-specific best practices;

(iii) Develop employee training programs; and

(iv) Provide information to reduce employee exposure to workplace hazards that can cause or aggravate musculoskeletal disorders."

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