Labor & Employment (Workplace Safety)

This bill requires government contractors and subcontractors working on contracts over $50,000 to disclose any recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations within the past four years, including whether safety hazards were corrected. It applies to all companies bidding on state procurement contracts and to trench excavation permit applicants, who must submit written disclosures about safety violations, fines, or site shutdowns. Contractors must update this information every six months during contract performance and provide documentation verifying hazard corrections. The law aims to ensure government agencies consider workplace safety records when awarding contracts, without restricting other legal rights.

This bill strengthens protections for workers injured on the job by expanding anti-retaliation safeguards and clarifying employer responsibilities. It creates a rebuttable 90-day presumption that an employer violated anti-retaliation rules if they take adverse action (like firing or refusing to hire) against an employee within 90 days of that employee reporting an injury, seeking care, or assisting others with workplace injury claims. Employers must now post multilingual notices about retaliation protections and wage rights, and they must reimburse insurers for any additional compensation owed when they fail to pay required wages under workers' compensation laws. Workers who face retaliation can sue for triple damages, attorney fees, and other remedies, with a 3-year filing window that pauses if they first report the violation to the attorney general.

This bill establishes new workplace safety standards to protect workers from extreme heat and cold. It requires employers to provide paid rest breaks, free cool drinking water (under 75°F), adequate shade or warmth, and training for supervisors and staff when temperatures reach defined thresholds (80°F+ for heat, 60°F- for cold). The law specifically covers all workers - including farmworkers, day laborers, part-time staff, and temporary employees - regardless of immigration status, and mandates acclimatization plans for new workers during their first week on the job. Employers must implement engineering controls (like ventilation) and administrative controls (such as adjusted work schedules) to reduce temperature-related risks.

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1323) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation relative to workplace safety and disclosure of violations. Labor and Workforce Development.

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1310) of James B. Eldridge for legislation to protect injured workers. Labor and Workforce Development.

H 4449 requires government contractors and subcontractors working on projects over $100,000 to disclose recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations within the past two years, including whether hazards were corrected. It applies to all companies bidding on state contracts, their subsidiaries, and applicants for trench excavation permits, mandating written disclosure of serious, willful, or repeat violations of federal workplace safety laws. Contractors must update this information every six months and provide evidence that safety hazards were fixed. Government agencies must review these disclosures when evaluating bids and can refer unresolved violations to safety authorities. The bill does not change OSHA enforcement but adds transparency requirements for state contracting and permitting.