Labor & Employment (Workplace Safety)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SR 339: A Resolution designating the week of June 8 through 14, 2026, as "Union Organizing Week" in Pennsylvania, in honor of those workers who have fought for their right to organize and bargain collectively at their workplace.

This Senate Resolution designates the week of June 8 through 14, 2026, as "Union Organizing Week" throughout Pennsylvania. The measure directly affects workers and employers by formally recognizing the historical efforts of employees who have fought for the right to organize and bargain collectively. The resolution highlights the benefits of unionization, such as improved workplace safety and fair wages, while acknowledging the challenges workers face during the organizing process. It serves as a commemorative gesture rather than establishing new legal requirements or changing existing labor laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill designates 'Union Organizing Week' to honor workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively, explicitly highlighting benefits like improved safety and fair wages.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 1250: An Act providing for legal protections from abusive work environments and for remedies.

This bill, known as the Safe Workplace Act, establishes legal protections against abusive work environments in Pennsylvania by defining and prohibiting abusive conduct such as sabotage, unreasonable workloads, excessive monitoring, and persistent verbal abuse. It applies to all employees and employers, including independent contractors who meet specific criteria, and covers actions by supervisors, coworkers, or the employer itself. The law prohibits retaliation against employees who report abuse and holds both employers and individual employees liable for violations, requiring employers to take reasonable preventive and responsive measures to maintain safe workplaces.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes legal protections against abusive work environments, expands worker rights, and prohibits retaliation for reporting abuse, directly strengthening labor protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2331: An Act providing for the investigations by the Department of Labor and Industry of employee injuries at warehouse distribution centers; and imposing penalties.

This Pennsylvania bill requires the Department of Labor and Industry to investigate warehouse distribution centers that report an annual employee injury rate 30% or higher than the state average. The law defines warehouse distribution centers using specific industry classification codes and gives the department authority to enter facilities, review records, interview workers, and consolidate complaints during investigations. Employers found with injury rates at or above the threshold face escalating civil penalties, starting at $6,250 for the first violation and increasing to $25,000 for subsequent violations. The bill also mandates that employers notify their employees when an investigation is underway and allows the Attorney General's office to pursue civil or criminal actions for violations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates investigations of high-injury warehouses and empowers DOLI to enforce safety standards, directly protecting worker health and workplace safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workers' Compensation Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 1204: An Act providing for regulations for employers to protect employees from heat-related injury or heat-related illness caused by heat stress; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry and the Secretary of Labor and Industry; establishing the Heat Protection Enforcement Fund; and imposing penalties.

This bill establishes workplace heat protection standards in Pennsylvania to safeguard employees from heat-related injuries and illnesses caused by heat stress. It requires the Department of Labor and Industry to create regulations within one year that mandate employers implement cooling measures, such as job rotation, misting equipment, and access to water, when heat index levels reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The law applies to all employers except emergency responders and fire service personnel during nonemergency situations, while also creating a dedicated enforcement fund and setting penalties for noncompliance.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes workplace heat protection standards to safeguard employees from heat-related injuries and illnesses, directly improving workplace safety and protecting workers' rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2332: An Act requiring certain warehouses to provide written descriptions of employment quotas; imposing powers and duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

This Pennsylvania bill, known as the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, requires warehouses with 100 or more employees to provide written and verbal notice of employment quotas to workers upon hiring or within 30 days. The law defines quotas as specific production standards tied to time periods where failure to meet them could lead to disciplinary action, and mandates that employers explain these quotas, potential consequences, and any associated bonuses in a language the employee understands. Additionally, the bill prohibits employers from taking adverse employment actions against workers if they fail to provide adequate notice of quotas as required, while also requiring employers to notify employees of any quota changes at least five business days before enforcement. The Department of Labor and Industry gains authority to enforce these requirements and impose penalties on non-compliant employers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill requires warehouses to disclose employment quotas and potential consequences to workers, enhancing transparency and protecting worker rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 439: An Act amending the act of July 14, 1961 (P.L.604, No.304), known as The Apprenticeship and Training Act, further providing for powers and duties; providing for supervision; and abrogating a regulation.

SB 439 updates Pennsylvania's Apprenticeship and Training Act by establishing new supervisor-to-apprentice ratios based on occupational hazard levels determined using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics fatality data. High-hazard jobs (9+ fatalities per 100,000 workers) require no more than three supervisors per apprentice, medium-hazard (2-9 fatalities) allows two supervisors, and low-hazard (≤2 fatalities) requires one supervisor. The bill mandates annual reviews of hazard classifications by the Department of Labor and Industry, with changes taking effect July 1 each year after public notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This directly affects all apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania, particularly those in industries like construction or manufacturing, by standardizing supervision requirements for safety and training consistency.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes stricter supervisor ratios for high-hazard occupations using BLS fatality data, directly improving apprentice workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 709: An Act providing for violence prevention committees in health facilities, for duties of committees, for workplace violence reporting requirements and for powers and duties of the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing fines and administrative penalties.

SB 709, known as the Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act, mandates that all health facilities in Pennsylvania establish violence prevention committees. These committees, comprised of both management and non-managerial employees, are responsible for conducting risk assessments, developing written workplace violence prevention programs, and providing employee training. The bill also requires employees to report incidents of workplace violence and prohibits retaliation against those who report. The Department of Labor and Industry is granted powers and duties related to these requirements, and the bill imposes fines for non-compliance.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates violence prevention committees, requires employee training/reporting, prohibits retaliation - directly enhances workplace safety protections for healthcare workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 635: An Act amending the act of December 21, 1989 (P.L.672, No.87), known as the Health Club Act, providing for lifeguards.

This bill requires Pennsylvania health clubs with swimming pools of 1,500 square feet or larger to have at least one certified lifeguard on duty during all hours the pool is open for swimming by members and guests. A "certified lifeguard" must hold a current certification from a lifeguard training program approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This rule directly affects health clubs operating such pools, mandating a minimum safety standard during pool hours. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates certified lifeguards for pool safety, directly improving workplace safety standards for health club employees and patrons as required by Pennsylvania law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 346: An Act providing for workplace health and safety standards for public employees; providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of Labor and Industry; establishing the Pennsylvania Occupational Safety and Health Review Board; providing for workplace inspections; and imposing penalties.

SB 346 establishes workplace health and safety standards specifically for public employees in Pennsylvania, including state, county, city, school, and local government workers. It creates the Pennsylvania Occupational Safety and Health Review Board to handle disputes, requires employers to provide hazard-free workplaces, and authorizes workplace inspections. The bill extends protections similar to federal OSHA standards (which currently cover private-sector workers) to public employees who are not already covered by federal rules. Key provisions include employer duties to eliminate recognized hazards, requirements for written hazard disclosures, and penalties for violations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes new safety standards for public employees, mandates hazard-free workplaces, and creates enforcement mechanisms - directly advancing workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 863: An Act providing for legal protections from abusive work environments and for remedies.

HB 863, the Healthy Workplace Act, creates legal protections against abusive work environments for most Pennsylvania employees (excluding agricultural, domestic, and family employment), directly affecting employers and employees in covered workplaces. It defines "abusive conduct" as repeated verbal abuse, threats, sabotage, or conduct causing physical/psychological injury (not covered by workers' compensation), and prohibits such behavior that creates a hostile workplace. Employers face liability for abusive conduct by their employees but can defend by showing reasonable preventive measures were taken and the employee failed to use available remedies. The bill also prohibits retaliation against employees who report abuse or participate in investigations, with additional defenses for reasonable performance evaluations or workplace investigations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDefines abusive conduct, prohibits hostile workplaces, and imposes employer liability - directly protects workers' rights and improves workplace safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

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