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S.B. 46

This document includes Senate Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 8:48 AM by lpoole. -->             


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Senate Committee Amendments 3-11-2013 lp/po
1     
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AMENDMENTS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Luz Robles

             5     
House Sponsor: ____________

             6     

             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Act to address inspections
             10      of workplaces.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    requires the creation of a program of investigations;
             14          .    modifies where civil penalties are to be deposited;
             15          .    creates the Occupational Safety and Health Restricted Account; S. [ and ]
             15a          . requires reporting; and .S
             16          .    makes technical and conforming amendments.
             17      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          None
             19      Other Special Clauses:
             20          None
             21      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             22      AMENDS:
             23          34A-6-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 297
             24          34A-6-307, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             25      ENACTS:
             26          34A-6-308, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             27     



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             28
     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             29          Section 1. Section 34A-6-301 is amended to read:
             30           34A-6-301. Inspection and investigation of workplace, worker injury, illness, or
             31      complaint -- Warrants -- Attendance of witnesses -- Recordkeeping by employers --
             32      Employer and employee representatives -- Request for inspection -- Compilation and
             33      publication of reports and information -- Rules.
             34          (1) (a) The division or its representatives, upon presenting appropriate credentials to
             35      the owner, operator, or agent in charge, may:
             36          (i) enter without delay at reasonable times [any] a workplace where work is performed
             37      by an employee of an employer;
             38          (ii) inspect and investigate during regular working hours and at other reasonable times
             39      in a reasonable manner, [any] a workplace, worker injury, occupational disease, or complaint
             40      and [all] the pertinent methods, operations, processes, conditions, structures, machines,
             41      apparatus, devices, equipment, and materials in the workplace; and
             42          (iii) question privately [any such] an employer, owner, operator, agent, or employee.
             43          (b) The division shall establish a program for inspections of workplaces in this state
             44      under which at least 35% of the inspections conducted by the division in a fiscal year are
             45      conducted notwithstanding that a notice, report, or complaint of a hazardous condition or injury
             46      at the workplace has not been made.
             47          [(b)] (c) The division, upon an employer's refusal to permit an inspection, may seek a
             48      warrant pursuant to the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure.
             49          (2) (a) The division or its representatives may require the attendance and testimony of
             50      [witnesses] a witness and the production of evidence under oath.
             51          (b) [Witnesses] A witness shall receive fees and mileage in accordance with Section
             52      78B-1-119 .
             53          (c) (i) If [any] a person fails or refuses to obey an order of the division to appear, any
             54      district court within the jurisdiction of which [such] the person is found, or resides or transacts
             55      business, upon the application by the division, shall have jurisdiction to issue to [any] a person
             56      an order requiring that person to:
             57          (A) appear to produce evidence if, as, and when so ordered; and
             58          (B) give testimony relating to the matter under investigation or in question.



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             59
         (ii) [Any] A failure to obey an order of the court described in this Subsection (2)(c)
             60      may be punished by the court as a contempt.
             61          (3) (a) The commission shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             62      Administrative Rulemaking Act, requiring [employers] an employer:
             63          (i) to keep records regarding activities related to this chapter considered necessary for
             64      enforcement or for the development of information about the causes and prevention of
             65      occupational accidents and diseases; and
             66          (ii) through posting of notices or other means, to inform employees of their rights and
             67      obligations under this chapter including applicable standards.
             68          (b) The commission shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             69      Administrative Rulemaking Act, requiring [employers] an employer to keep records regarding
             70      any work-related death and injury and any occupational disease as provided in this Subsection
             71      (3)(b).
             72          (i) [Each] An employer shall investigate or cause to be investigated all work-related
             73      injuries and occupational diseases and any sudden or unusual occurrence or change of
             74      conditions that pose an unsafe or unhealthful exposure to employees.
             75          (ii) [Each] An employer shall, within eight hours of occurrence, notify the division of
             76      any:
             77          (A) work-related fatality;
             78          (B) disabling, serious, or significant injury; or
             79          (C) occupational disease incident.
             80          (iii) (A) [Each] An employer shall file a report with the Division of Industrial
             81      Accidents within seven days after the occurrence of an injury or occupational disease, after the
             82      employer's first knowledge of the occurrence, or after the employee's notification of the same,
             83      in the form prescribed by the Division of Industrial Accidents, of any work-related fatality or
             84      any work-related injury or occupational disease resulting in:
             85          (I) medical treatment;
             86          (II) loss of consciousness;
             87          (III) loss of work;
             88          (IV) restriction of work; or
             89          (V) transfer to another job.



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             90
         (B) (I) [Each] An employer shall file a subsequent report with the Division of
             91      Industrial Accidents of any previously reported injury or occupational disease that later resulted
             92      in death.
             93          (II) The subsequent report shall be filed with the Division of Industrial Accidents
             94      within seven days following the death or the employer's first knowledge or notification of the
             95      death.
             96          (iv) A report is not required for minor injuries, such as cuts or scratches that require
             97      first-aid treatment only, unless a treating physician files, or is required to file, the Physician's
             98      Initial Report of Work Injury or Occupational Disease with the Division of Industrial
             99      Accidents.
             100          (v) A report is not required:
             101          (A) for occupational diseases that manifest after the employee is no longer employed
             102      by the employer with which the exposure occurred; or
             103          (B) [where] when the employer is not aware of an exposure occasioned by the
             104      employment [which] that results in a compensable occupational disease as defined by Section
             105      34A-3-103 .
             106          (vi) [Each] An employer shall provide the employee with:
             107          (A) a copy of the report submitted to the Division of Industrial Accidents; and
             108          (B) a statement, as prepared by the Division of Industrial Accidents, of the employee's
             109      rights and responsibilities related to the industrial injury or occupational disease.
             110          (vii) [Each] An employer shall maintain a record in a manner prescribed by the
             111      commission of all work-related fatalities or work-related injuries and of all occupational
             112      diseases resulting in:
             113          (A) medical treatment;
             114          (B) loss of consciousness;
             115          (C) loss of work;
             116          (D) restriction of work; or
             117          (E) transfer to another job.
             118          (viii) The commission shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             119      Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement this Subsection (3)(b) consistent with nationally
             120      recognized rules or standards on the reporting and recording of work-related injuries and



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             121
     occupational diseases.
             122          (c) (i) The commission shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             123      Administrative Rulemaking Act, requiring [employers] an employer to keep records regarding
             124      exposures to potentially toxic materials or harmful physical agents required to be measured or
             125      monitored under Section 34A-6-202 .
             126          (ii) (A) The rules made under Subsection (3)(c)(i) shall provide for employees or their
             127      representatives:
             128          (I) to observe the measuring or monitoring; and
             129          (II) to have access to the records of the measuring or monitoring, and to records that
             130      indicate [their] employees' exposure to toxic materials or harmful agents.
             131          (B) [Each] An employer shall promptly notify [employees] an employee being exposed
             132      to toxic materials or harmful agents in concentrations that exceed prescribed levels and inform
             133      [any such] the employee of the corrective action being taken.
             134          (4) Information obtained by the division shall be obtained with a minimum burden
             135      upon employers, especially those operating small businesses.
             136          (5) A representative of the employer and a representative authorized by employees
             137      shall be given an opportunity to accompany the division's authorized representative during the
             138      physical inspection of any workplace. If there is no authorized employee representative, the
             139      division's authorized representative shall consult with a reasonable number of employees
             140      concerning matters of health and safety in the workplace.
             141          (6) (a) (i) (A) [Any] An employee or representative of employees who believes that a
             142      violation of an adopted safety or health standard exists that threatens physical harm, or that an
             143      imminent danger exists, may request an inspection by giving notice to the division's authorized
             144      representative of the violation or danger. The notice shall be:
             145          (I) in writing, setting forth with reasonable particularity the grounds for notice; and
             146          (II) signed by the employee or representative of employees.
             147          (B) A copy of the notice shall be provided the employer or the employer's agent no
             148      later than at the time of inspection.
             149          (C) Upon request of the person giving notice, the person's name and the names of
             150      individual employees referred to in the notice may not appear in the copy or on any record
             151      published, released, or made available pursuant to Subsection (7).



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             152
         (ii) (A) If upon receipt of the notice the division's authorized representative determines
             153      there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation or danger exists, the authorized
             154      representative shall make a special inspection in accordance with this section as soon as
             155      practicable to determine if a violation or danger exists.
             156          (B) If the division's authorized representative determines there are no reasonable
             157      grounds to believe that a violation or danger exists, the authorized representative shall notify
             158      the employee or representative of the employees in writing of that determination.
             159          (b) (i) [Prior to] Before or during [any] an inspection of a workplace, [any] an
             160      employee or representative of employees employed in the workplace may notify the division or
             161      its representative of any violation of a standard that [they have] the individual has reason to
             162      believe exists in the workplace.
             163          (ii) The division shall:
             164          (A) by rule, establish procedures for informal review of any refusal by a representative
             165      of the division to issue a citation with respect to [any] an alleged violation; and
             166          (B) furnish the [employees] employee or representative of employees requesting
             167      review a written statement of the reasons for the division's final disposition of the case.
             168          (7) (a) The division may compile, analyze, and publish, either in summary or detailed
             169      form, all reports or information obtained under this section, subject to the limitations set forth
             170      in Section 34A-6-306 .
             171          (b) The commission shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             172      Administrative Rulemaking Act, necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this chapter,
             173      including rules for information obtained under this section, subject to the limitations set forth
             174      in Section 34A-6-306 .
             175          (8) [Any] An employer who refuses or neglects to make reports, to maintain records, or
             176      to file reports with the commission as required by this section is guilty of a class C
             177      misdemeanor and subject to citation under Section 34A-6-302 and a civil assessment as
             178      provided under Section 34A-6-307 , unless the commission finds that the employer has shown
             179      good cause for submitting a report later than required by this section.
             180          Section 2. Section 34A-6-307 is amended to read:
             181           34A-6-307. Civil and criminal penalties.
             182          (1) The commission may assess civil penalties against any employer who has received



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             183
     a citation under Section 34A-6-302 as follows:
             184          (a) Except as provided in Subsections (1)(b) through (d), the commission may assess
             185      up to $7,000 for each cited violation.
             186          (b) The commission may not assess less than $250 nor more than $7,000 for each cited
             187      serious violation. A violation is serious only if:
             188          (i) it arises from a condition, practice, method, operation, or process in the workplace
             189      of which the employer knows or should know through the exercise of reasonable diligence; and
             190          (ii) there is a substantial possibility that the condition, practice, method, operation, or
             191      process could result in death or serious physical harm.
             192          (c) The commission may not assess less than $5,000 nor more than $70,000 for each
             193      cited willful violation.
             194          (d) The commission may assess up to $70,000 for each cited violation if the employer
             195      has previously been found to have violated the same standards, code, rule, or order.
             196          (e) After the expiration of the time permitted to an employer to correct a cited
             197      violation, the commission may assess up to $7,000 for each day the violation continues
             198      uncorrected.
             199          (2) The commission may assess a civil penalty of up to $7,000 for each violation of any
             200      posting requirement under this chapter.
             201          (3) In deciding the amount to assess for a civil penalty, the commission shall consider
             202      all relevant factors, including:
             203          (a) the size of the employer's business;
             204          (b) the nature of the violation;
             205          (c) the employer's good faith or lack of good faith; and
             206          (d) the employer's previous record of compliance or noncompliance with this chapter.
             207          (4) Any civil penalty collected under this chapter shall be paid into the [General Fund]
             208      Occupational Safety and Health Restricted Account, created by Section 34A-6-308 .
             209          (5) Criminal penalties under this chapter are as follows:
             210          (a) [Any] An employer who willfully violates [any] a standard, code, rule, or order
             211      issued under Section 34A-6-202 , or [any] a rule made under this chapter, is guilty of a class A
             212      misdemeanor if the violation caused the death of an employee. If the violation causes the death
             213      of more than one employee, each death is considered a separate offense.



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Senate Committee Amendments 3-11-2013 lp/po
             214          (b) [Any] A person who gives advance notice of any inspection conducted under this
             215      chapter without authority from the administrator or the administrator's representatives is guilty
             216      of a class A misdemeanor.
             217          (c) [Any] A person who knowingly makes a false statement, representation, or
             218      certification in any application, record, report, plan, or other document filed or required to be
             219      maintained under this chapter is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
             220          (6) After a citation issued under this chapter and an opportunity for a hearing under
             221      Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act, the division may file an abstract for any
             222      uncollected citation penalty in the district court. The filed abstract shall have the effect of a
             223      judgment of that court. The abstract shall state the amount of the uncollected citation penalty,
             224      reasonable [attorneys'] attorney fees as set by commission rule, and court costs.
             225          Section 3. Section 34A-6-308 is enacted to read:
             226          34A-6-308. Occupational Safety and Health Restricted Account.
             227          (1) There is created in the General Fund a restricted account known as the
             228      "Occupational Safety and Health Restricted Account."
             229          (2) The Occupational Safety and Health Restricted Account shall consist of the civil
             230      penalties collected under Section 34A-6-307 .
             231          (3) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the division shall use the money in the
             232      Occupational Safety and Health Restricted Account to S. :
             232a      (a) .S fund the program of investigations
             233      established under Subsection 34A-6-301 (1)(b) S. [ . ] ; and
             233a      (b) with the money remaining in the Occupational Safety and Health Restricted Account after
             233b      funding the program described in Subsection (3)(a), fund activities of the division that are
             233c      authorized under this chapter and address occupational health and safety.
             233d      (4) The division shall annually report to the Business, Economic Development, and Labor
             233e      Appropriations Subcommittee regarding the programs and services funded by the
             233f      Occupational Safety and Health Restricted Account. .S





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