Committee hears proposal to make 10‑day owner notifications permanent for building construction inspections
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Summary
A committee staff briefing and L&I testimony described a substitute to HB 2107 that would require the Department of Labor & Industries to make a good‑faith effort to notify owners within 10 working days when an immediate hazard is identified during on‑site inspections at building construction worksites; proponents said a two‑year pilot reached owners nearly 96% of the time.
The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee considered a proposed substitute to House Bill 2107 that would require the Department of Labor & Industries to make a good‑faith effort to notify an employer or owner within 10 working days when an immediate hazard that could injure a worker is identified during an on‑site inspection at a building construction worksite.
Committee staff opened the briefing by placing the change in the context of the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act and explained that a temporary 2024 law required L&I to notify owners on residential construction inspections through June 2026. The substitute would make the requirement permanent and limit its scope to building construction sites, using NAICS codes to define applicability.
Tammy Fellan, Department of Labor & Industries, told the committee the pilot has been tested for roughly two years and produced measurable results. “We did about 1,400 safety and health inspections in this arena, and were able to notify the owners almost 96% of the time,” Fellan said, describing why L&I supports making the practice permanent to ensure hazards are addressed and owners are aware that inspectors were onsite.
Industry witnesses testified in favor. Mike Innes, Building Industry Association of Washington, said BIW, which represents roughly 8,300 builder members statewide, supports the L&I substitute and praised collaboration between the agency and bill sponsors. Jerry Vanderwood (AGC/Washington Construction Industry Council) and Carolyn Logue (Associated Builders and Contractors Inland Pacific Chapter) also expressed support, saying contractors favor early notice so hazards can be fixed sooner.
The substitute, as explained by staff, narrows the original bill’s broader construction‑wide coverage to a definition limited to building construction sites. Committee members asked no substantive questions during the staff briefing or testimony; Ranking Member Schmidt described the measure as a pilot that worked well and said he supports making it permanent.
The committee closed the public hearing on HB 2107 without a vote recorded and moved to the next agenda item.