State laws

Kentucky governor restores state’s OSH Standards Board

Kentucky Labor cabinet logo

Photo: Kentucky Labor Cabinet

Frankfort, KY — Newly elected Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) on Jan. 10 issued an Executive Order reestablishing the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board.

Abolished by former Gov. Matt Bevin (R) via Executive Order in July 2018, the 12-member board is responsible for adopting, amending or revoking occupational safety and health rules, regulations and standards.

 

“Every Kentuckian should be safe at their place of employment,” Beshear said in a Jan. 10 press release. “We have worked with industry leaders to reestablish the board and ensure we have professionals from across the commonwealth who are committed to helping strengthen our workplace safety standards.”

The board members will serve three-year terms that expire Jan. 8, 2023.

After the board was eliminated, its authority was transferred to the state’s secretary of labor, who served as its chair. Beshear, who took over as governor Dec. 10, was the state’s attorney general at the time and “urged that the board be reinstated,” the release states.

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