SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1542
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Labor & Commerce, March 20, 2023
Title: An act relating to requiring automated external defibrillators to be available and accessible when work is being performed on high voltage lines and equipment.
Brief Description: Requiring automated external defibrillators to be available and accessible when work is being performed on high voltage lines and equipment.
Sponsors: Representatives Bronoske, Fosse, Berry, Hackney, Abbarno, Griffey, Walsh, Ortiz-Self, Taylor, Ramel, Simmons, Jacobsen, Schmidt, Graham, Ormsby, Pollet, Kloba, Doglio, Bateman, Macri, Leavitt and Timmons.
Brief History: Passed House: 3/4/23, 95-0.
Committee Activity: Labor & Commerce: 3/14/23, 3/20/23 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Amended Bill
  • Requires an automated external defibrillator be available and accessible when work is being performed on high voltage lines and equipment, or when line-clearance tree trimming is conducted in close proximity to high voltage lines or equipment. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.
Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair; Saldaña, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Braun, MacEwen, Robinson, Schoesler and Stanford.
Staff: Jarrett Sacks (786-7448)
Background:

Under the Washington Industrial Health and Safety Act, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) adopts rules and regulations of safety and health standards governing the conditions of employment in all work places. L&I sets occupational health and safety standards that are at least as effective as the federal standards.

 

Current rules and regulations provide safety standards for the operation, maintenance, and construction of electric power generation, control, transformation, transmission, and distribution of electrical lines and equipment, as well as line-clearance tree-trimming. Among other requirements, persons trained in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be available when employees are performing work on or associated with exposed lines or equipment energized at 50 volts or more. 

 

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a medical device used in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest that analyzes the heart rhythm and delivers an electrical shock to re-establish an effective heart rhythm.
Summary of Amended Bill:

Employers with employees who operate, maintain, or construct high voltage lines and equipment or who conduct line-clearance tree trimming in close proximity to high voltage lines and equipment must:

  • make an AED available and accessible to employees when work is being performed on, or in close proximity to, high voltage lines and equipment by two or more employees; 
  • conduct regular maintenance and annual inspections on the AED; and
  • provide training or facilitate training to ensure there are at least two employees proficient on the proper and safe use of the AED. 

 

To be considered proficient, an employee must have completed initial or updated training within the previous two years. 

 

High voltage lines or equipment means any energized communication line, electric supply line, or equipment with a voltage of 601 or greater. 
EFFECT OF LABOR & COMMERCE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT(S):
  • Changes the effective date from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2025.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on House Bill:

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: AEDs are protective equipment for people who work on high voltage lines. They are easy to use and can save lives. Many employers already have AEDs, and the bill is just to make sure no workers fall through the cracks. Work on high voltage lines is sometimes done in remote areas away from medical services. Deploying an AED can save lives. Work on over 600 volts can interrupt someone's heart rhythm and the only way to restore it is an AED.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Dan Bronoske, Prime Sponsor; Nicole Grant, IBEW 46; Will Power, IBEW LU 77; Christine Reid, IBEW LU 77; mike McDougal, IBEW LU 77; Brick Strait, IBEW LU 77.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.