Governor Signs Executive Order to Extend Workplace Protections to State Employees
April 28, 2009
In an emotional rally at the State House today, State Labor Secretary Suzanne Bump announced that Governor Deval Patrick had signed Executive Order 511 extending workplace protections to public employees who, unlike private-sector employees, are not covered under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).
"We have been fighting for these most basic health and safety protections for public employees for many, many years," said NAGE National President David J. Holway. "It's very sad that more workers had to die before the order was passed, but we commend the governor for taking action today to prevent additional unnecessary work-related accidents and illnesses."
The executive order will institute safety committees in all state agencies to document workplace hazards and to develop safety measures that will protect workers.
According to the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Health and Safety (MassCOSH), when OSHA was enacted in the 1970’s, it gave states the option to extend safety protections to public employees. Though twenty-seven states already apply these regulations to public employees, Massachusetts does not.
"This is a great day for public employees in Massachusetts who are finally going to be protected by the same safety rules that have protected employees in the private sector for almost 40 years," said SEIU/NAGE's Kevin Preston. "On behalf of the 20,000 state employees represented by SEIU/NAGE, SEIU Local 888 and SEIU Local 509, we thank Governor Patrick for taking this long overdue step. With more effective safety rules, employees will have less on the job injuries and taxpayers will enjoy considerable savings from each accident that doesn't happen. It's good policy and its good business."
MassCOSH organized the Workers Memorial Day at the State House, as it does every year, to honor the thousands of workers who are injured or killed on the job in Massachusetts.