Brief Description: Requiring repetitive motion injury notices.

Sponsors: Representatives Conway, Wood, Hudgins, McCoy, Morrell, Kenney and Simpson, G.

Hearing Date: 2/4/04

Staff: Jill Reinmuth (786-7134).

Background:

Under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, the Department of Labor and Industries (Department) has adopted rules requiring employers to keep records of occupational injuries and illnesses. These records include a log of all recordable occupational injuries and illnesses, as well as an annual summary. Recordable injuries and illnesses include musculoskeletal disorders that are work-related and considered to be new cases. Employees and their representatives may request access to and copies of the log. Employers must post the annual summary from

February 1 to April 30 of each year in a conspicuous place where notices to employees are customarily posted.

Two types of employers are exempt from these record keeping requirements: (1) employers with 10 or fewer employees; and (2) private employers in finance, insurance, real estate, certain retail trades, and certain service industries.

Summary of Bill:

Each year, the Department must publish lists of employers with the best and worst records of repetitive motion injuries. The lists must include the 12 percent of employers with the highest and lowest numbers of such injuries, rates per employee of such injuries, and costs for such injuries.

Each employer that appears on the list of employers with the worst records of such injuries must post a copy of the list in a readily accessible location and in plain view in each work site. The employer must also post safety and health standards recommended by the employer or the Department to avoid such injuries.

Rules Authority: The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an agency.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 28, 2004.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.