Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Construction Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill would expand L&I notice requirement for construction hazards statewide
Summary
Senate Bill 5869 would make permanent and expand a pilot requiring Department of Labor & Industries to notify employers/owners of identified hazards at building construction sites; industry groups and L&I support the change.
Senate Bill 5869, which would remove the pilot's expiration and expand L&I's notice requirement from residential building construction to all building construction worksites, received committee attention and broad industry support.
Committee staff explained the current pilot required L&I to make a good-faith effort to notify an owner or employer within 10 working days when an inspection immediately identifies a hazard at a residential construction site; the bill removes the June 30, 2026 expiration, removes a reporting requirement, and expands the covered sites. Industry witnesses including the Building Industry Association of Washington, Associated Builders and Contractors, and Associated General Contractors testified in favor, arguing quicker notice allows employers to correct hazards in real time and improves worker safety.
Department of Labor & Industries staff said the pilot has been effective: of nearly 1,400 residential inspections since the pilot, L&I contacted the owner or employer within 10 days about 96% of the time. L&I said opening and closing conferences already involve on-site workers and that the bill's notice to owners would help close communication loops with project managers and employers.
The committee discussed worker and employer notification practices; no recorded committee vote was taken that day.
