State laws

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Sacramento, CA – New regulations in California will require certain hospitals to implement a safe patient-handling policy that uses devices and lifting teams to move patients, potentially improving the safety of patients, nurses and other staff.

Washington – Almost 7 million workers in California have no access to paid sick days, according to a report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

San Jose, CA – Three out of four people who work in construction, food service and child care in San Jose lack access to paid sick days, according to a study from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Tallahassee, FL – Florida legislators have expanded the state’s “Move-Over Act” to include protections for workers who operate or ride in or on sanitation and utility service vehicles.

Boston – Massachusetts has bolstered occupational safety and health protections for state workers as part of a law that also will increase the minimum wage to $11 over three years.

Annapolis, MD – Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation has been tasked with creating a workgroup to study potential occupational safety and health prequalification requirements for the state’s public works contractors.

Phoenix – OSHA’s threat to take away Arizona’s oversight of construction safety – prompted by alleged inadequacies in the state’s fall protection standard – is unnecessary in light of recently passed legislation, an attorney representing the state said in a May 1 letter to the federal agency.

New York – New York state should amend its workers’ compensation regulation to require all private-sector employers to implement workplace safety and loss prevention programs, watchdog group Public Citizen stated in a report released May 6.