Bill Text: HI HB315 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Vog; Sulfur Dioxide; Occupational Safety and Health Standards

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB315 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB315-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  353

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 315

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 315 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOLCANIC EMISSIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to protect the health and safety of workers exposed to volcanic emissions by requiring the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-agency Task Force on Vog (Task Force), to establish standards to promote worker safety during high incidences of vog or sulfur dioxide.

 

     The Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Councilmember for Council District 6 of the Hawaii County Council, Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaii, Ka‘u Farm Bureau, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  DLIR supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Insurance Council opposed this bill.  The Councilmember for Council District 5 of the Hawaii County Council submitted comments.

 

     Many workers, especially those on the Island of Hawaii, have work-related duties or work in environments that expose them to high levels of vog or sulfur dioxide.  Exposure to these substances has recently increased, mainly due to an increase in emissions from a new vent at the Halema‘uma‘u Crater on Kilauea Volcano.  This increased exposure has posed health risks, with people becoming ill.  No standards currently exist to measure the occupational safety and health impacts of the exposure to vog or sulfur dioxide.  Developing appropriate work safety standards during high incidences of vog or sulfur dioxide will allow employers and workers to respond appropriately to protecting the health and safety of workers.

 

     However, your Committee understands that other agencies, particularly on the federal level, may also need to be consulted prior to DLIR's development of new workplace safety standards.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by requiring that DLIR consult with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the American Conference of Governmental Industry Hygienists, in addition to DOH and the Task Force, prior to establishing any worker safety standards.

 

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 315, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 315, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

 

		____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair