In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation that would establish the Pennsylvania Occupational Safety and Health Review Board within the Department of Labor and Industry. This legislation was introduced as SB 93 in the 2023-24 session. Members who co-sponsored this legislation previously include Senators Bartolotta, Hughes, Kearney, Fontana, Kane, Schwank, Collett, Street, Costa, Cappelletti, Santarsiero, Comitta, Muth, and Miller. 

Currently, public workers in Pennsylvania, unlike their counterparts in the private sector, are not protected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This means that workers of state and local governments are powerless to change their work environment if they feel unsafe at any time. In turn, this legislation would extend OSHA safety rules to public employers (including the Commonwealth), all legal political subdivisions, public schools, public transit systems, and non-profit organizations.

Alarmingly, workplace safety is only getting worse in the Commonwealth in the absence of legislative action. The US Department of Labor's reported that in 2022, there were 183 fatal work injuries in Pennsylvania which is an increase of 35 deaths from the 148 fatalities recorded in 2020. All workers deserve the right to work in an environment that is free from unnecessary health and safety hazards, including the public sector workers that have some of the most dangerous jobs in the Commonwealth. It is time that all workers in Pennsylvania have a safe place to work.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.