Bill > H3149

This bill aims to extend protections to employees of the Commonwealth by amending the existing laws. The key provisions are: 1. Requiring the regulations to provide at least the level of protection to Commonwealth employees as the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) does. If there is no state regulation, the applicable OSHA provisions will be enforceable in the district court. 2. Establishing an Occupational Health and Safety Hazard Advisory Board to evaluate injury and illness data, recommend training and safety measures, monitor the effectiveness of safety programs, and determine where additional resources are needed to protect the safety and health of Commonwealth employees. The board will have representatives from various government agencies and labor unions. 3. Allowing the Director, in consultation with the Advisory Board, to promulgate rules and regulations to establish standards that are necessary for the protection of public employees, either when no federal standard exists or when a different state standard would be more effective than the federal standard. 4. Repealing the fourth paragraph of section 6 of chapter 149 of the general laws, which likely contained outdated or conflicting provisions.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H3149