Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Labor & Workplace Standards Committee |
HB 1953
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Addressing maximum penalties under the Washington industrial safety and health act.
Sponsors: Representatives Dolan, Gregerson, Sells, Doglio, Ormsby and Kilduff; by request of Department of Labor & Industries.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/13/17
Staff: Joan Elgee (786-7106).
Background:
Washington is a "state plan state" for purposes of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 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 by the OSHA. The Department of Labor and Industries (Department), through the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), 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. The citation identifies the violation, a time for abatement, and the penalty. To determine the penalty, the DOSH calculates a base penalty based on the gravity of the violation and then adjusts the base penalty based on the employer's inspection history, the size of the workforce, and other factors. Maximum penalties are specified in statute for various types of violations, as well as a minimum penalty for willful violations.In 2015, Congress directed the OSHA to adjust the maximum penalties to reflect inflation. The OSHA subsequently adjusted penalties effective August 1, 2016. The legislation also requires the OSHA to annually adjust civil penalties.The civil penalty maximums and minimum under WISHA and the OSHA for various violations are:
WISHA | OSHA (January 1, 2017) | |
Serious or non-serious, failure to abate, posting - maximum penalty | $7,000 (some penalties are discretionary and some mandatory) | $12,675 |
Willful or repeated -maximum penalty | $70,000 | $126,749 |
Willful (minimum penalty) | $5,000 | $9,054 |
Summary of Bill:
Penalty maximums under the WISHA are adjusted so that if the state is required to have a higher maximum penalty for purposes of the OSHA, the maximum penalty is the higher penalty required under the OSHA. Similarly, for the mandatory minimum penalty for a willful violation, if the state is required to have a higher penalty amount, the higher amount set by the OSHA must be assessed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2018.