Bill > HB303

This bill requires the New Hampshire Department of Labor to adopt and enforce occupational safety standards that are at least as stringent as federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, with some specific provisions. The bill mandates that employers provide employee protection equivalent to OSHA standards, and authorizes the labor commissioner to adopt rules implementing these standards, focusing on sections 29 C.F.R. part 1910 D through Z (excluding certain subparts). The commissioner must conduct annual reviews of implemented safety standards, maintain records of these reviews, and recommend statutory amendments when necessary. To support this new regulatory framework, the bill allows for the hiring of up to 6 full-time labor inspector positions and one support staff position, with funding coming from existing department administration or restricted funds. The inspectors will be responsible for ensuring that employers across the state meet these new safety requirements, which must be implemented within three years of the bill's passage. The bill aims to enhance workplace safety by bringing state-level occupational safety standards more closely in line with federal OSHA guidelines, with built-in flexibility for the commissioner to adapt standards as needed.

Labor and Employment

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0450&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB303