Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear yesterday vetoed a business-backed bill that will weaken Kentucky’s state OSHA program.
The original legislation, which I wrote about here, prohibited the state OSHA from enforcing any Kentucky standards that were more protective than federal rules, shortened the time for workers to file anti-discrimination complaints, allowed only employees to file complaints (as opposed to family members or a representative), made fines for violations of OSHA standards optional, and restricted workers’ ability to choose their own representatives to walk around with the OSHA inspector during an inspection.
The final bill, modified before passage, was a slight improvement over the original bill, removing references to “qualified” representatives and deleting some of the bad language restricting workers or their representative from walking around with OSHA inspectors. The final bill still prohibits KY OSHA from issuing standards more stringent than federal OSHA’s, makes financial penalties optional, shortens the time to file a retaliation complaints and allows employers to recover costs if they contest the violations and win in court.
In his veto message, Beshear, a Democrat, said he vetoed House Bill 398 because it “would make Kentuckians less safe in the workplace and hand over much of the authority to regulate, investigate and enforce Kentucky workplace safety and health standards to the federal government.”
“House Bill 398 will lead to more workplace injuries, with Kentucky workers paying the price,” Beshear warned.
He cited Kentucky workers who would no longer be protected because KY OSHA would no longer be able to enforce certain standards that go beyond federal standards including fall protection, exposure to toxic and hazardous materials, high-voltage electrical lines and bulk hazardous liquid unloading.
91 workers were killed in Kentucky in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was a significant increase over 2022, when 71 Kentucky workers were killed on the job.
91 workers were killed in Kentucky in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was a significant increase over 2022, when 71 Kentucky workers were killed on the job. The fatality rate for Kentucky workers was also above the national average.
Chamber of Commerce Support
HB 398 had strong support from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Republicans in the state legislature.
The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Walker Thomas, R-Hopkinsville, said he was trying to build “a business-friendly climate.” There are large companies with operations in multiple states that want to operate under one uniform set of rules, not state-by-state rules, Thomas said in his testimony to a Senate committee.
“This bill just shows our commitment to the business community while not jeopardizing the safety of our great employees,” he said.
Federal OSHA’s Role
Unfortunately, the bill, which passed along party lines, had a large enough majority to easily enable the legislature to override of Beshear’s veto later this week.
If Beshear’s veto is sustained by the legislature, the ball falls into federal OSHA’s court to determine whether Kentucky’s OSHA program is still “at least as effective” as the federal program.
Some changes, like eliminating enforcement of standards that exceed federal OSHA standards, and shortening the time allowed to file an anti-discrimination complaint, are consisted with federal law even if they will weaken worker protections.
But others, like making fines optional, the ability of non employees (like family members) to file complaints and requiring the state OSHA to pay court costs may run afoul of federal OSHA’s requirements for state plans.