Kansas Seeks to Run Own Occupational Safety Program

A bill recently introduced in the Kansas legislature would bring workplace safety enforcement under the purview of the state rather than the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The bill calls for the Kansas Department of Labor to submit a plan to the federal government that defines how it would develop and enforce occupational safety and health standards.

The state’s labor department estimated it would cost $250,000 to begin implementing the provisions of the bill and increase to $2.75 million by 2019 to fund salaries for 26 new positions and related expenses.

The state general fund would be required to fund the state plan for the first three years, after which it would be funded half by the federal government and half by fees assessed for violations, according to the state’s budget director.

About half of U.S. states oversee their own workplace safety enforcement in line with federal standards, while the other half submit to enforcement by the federal agency, according to OSHA.

Source: BusinessInsurance.com