Bill > HB308

This bill establishes comprehensive workplace safety and health standards specifically for public employees in Pennsylvania, creating a framework to protect workers across various government organizations from hazardous working conditions. The legislation, known as the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act, requires public employers to provide workplaces free from recognized hazards and to comply with safety standards, which will largely mirror federal occupational safety regulations. The bill creates the Pennsylvania Occupational Safety and Health Review Board, a five-member board appointed by the Governor to hear appeals related to safety violations and enforcement actions, and empowers the Secretary of Labor and Industry to conduct workplace inspections, issue compliance orders, and assess penalties for safety violations. Key provisions include allowing employees to request workplace inspections, protecting workers from discrimination if they report safety concerns, establishing recordkeeping requirements for employers regarding workplace injuries and exposure to hazardous materials, and creating a graduated penalty system for violations ranging from administrative fines to potential criminal charges for willful violations that result in employee deaths. The bill applies to a broad range of public employers, including state and local government agencies, public schools, and nonprofit organizations receiving government funding, with the goal of ensuring that public employees have the same workplace safety protections as private sector workers.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=308