Senate Bill S5081A

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Establishes the warehouse worker injury reduction program

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate & Assembly


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2023-S5081 - Details

Law Section:
Labor Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §§780 & 786, add §789, Lab L

2023-S5081 - Summary

Establishes the warehouse worker injury reduction program; requires employers to establish an injury reduction program designed to identify and minimize the risks of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders among workers involved in performing manual materials handling tasks.

2023-S5081 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S5081 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5081
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 22, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  RAMOS  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
 
 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the warehouse
   worker injury reduction program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "warehouse
 worker injury reduction program".
   § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature finds and declares that:
   (a) Workplace injuries can take a  terrible  toll  on  workers,  their
 families  and  their  communities,  and can create substantial costs for
 employers. According to the most recent  data  (2020)  released  by  the
 Bureau of Labor Statistics, the warehouse industry itself reports a rate
 of  serious work-related injuries involving lost time or restricted duty
 (4.0 cases/100 full-time workers) that is more than  twice  the  average
 injury rates for all private industry (1.7 cases/100 full-time workers).
 The most common types of work-related serious injury reported by employ-
 ers  in  the  warehouse sector are musculoskeletal injuries, which often
 require workers to miss work and can force workers  permanently  out  of
 the job and even out of the workforce.
   (b)  Warehouse  companies  often require workers to perform fast paced
 manual material handling tasks. These involve  well-known  risk  factors
 for  serious  injury  such  as rapid pace, repetitive forceful exertions
 like lifting heavy packages, and awkward postures like twisting/bending,
 and combinations thereof that are likely to cause musculoskeletal  inju-
 ries.  Scientific evidence shows that effective ergonomic interventions,
 such  as  reducing the pace, package weights and stressful postures, can
 lower the incidence and severity of work-related  musculoskeletal  inju-
 ries.  The research is clear that the most effective method for reducing
 or eliminating these risk factors is to implement an ergonomics  program
 that  includes well-informed analysis of the worksite, implementation of
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08912-01-3
              

co-Sponsors

2023-S5081A - Details

Law Section:
Labor Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §§780 & 786, add §789, Lab L

2023-S5081A - Summary

Establishes the warehouse worker injury reduction program; requires employers to establish an injury reduction program designed to identify and minimize the risks of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders among workers involved in performing manual materials handling tasks.

2023-S5081A - Sponsor Memo

2023-S5081A - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  5081--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 22, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  RAMOS,  HOYLMAN-SIGAL,  SKOUFIS -- read twice and
   ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
   Labor  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended, ordered reprinted as
   amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the warehouse
   worker injury reduction program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "warehouse
 worker injury reduction program".
   § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature finds and declares that:
   (a) Workplace injuries can take a  terrible  toll  on  workers,  their
 families  and  their  communities,  and can create substantial costs for
 employers. According to the most recent  data  (2020)  released  by  the
 Bureau of Labor Statistics, the warehouse industry itself reports a rate
 of  serious work-related injuries involving lost time or restricted duty
 (4.0 cases/100 full-time workers) that is more than  twice  the  average
 injury rates for all private industry (1.7 cases/100 full-time workers).
 The most common types of work-related serious injury reported by employ-
 ers  in  the  warehouse sector are musculoskeletal injuries, which often
 require workers to miss work and can force workers  permanently  out  of
 the job and even out of the workforce.
   (b)  Warehouse  companies  often require workers to perform fast paced
 manual material handling tasks. These involve  well-known  risk  factors
 for  serious  injury  such  as rapid pace, repetitive forceful exertions
 like lifting heavy packages, and awkward postures like twisting/bending,
 and combinations thereof that are likely to cause musculoskeletal  inju-
 ries.  Scientific evidence shows that effective ergonomic interventions,
 such  as  reducing the pace, package weights and stressful postures, can
 lower the incidence and severity of work-related  musculoskeletal  inju-
 ries.  The research is clear that the most effective method for reducing
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08912-02-3
              

co-Sponsors

2023-S5081B - Details

Law Section:
Labor Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §§780 & 786, add §789, Lab L

2023-S5081B - Summary

Establishes the warehouse worker injury reduction program; requires employers to establish an injury reduction program designed to identify and minimize the risks of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders among workers involved in performing manual materials handling tasks.

2023-S5081B - Sponsor Memo

2023-S5081B - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  5081--B
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 22, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. RAMOS, ADDABBO, CHU, FERNANDEZ, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, PARK-
   ER,  SCARCELLA-SPANTON,  SKOUFIS,  STAVISKY,  WEBB  --  read twice and
   ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
   Labor  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended, ordered reprinted as
   amended and recommitted  to  said  committee  --  recommitted  to  the
   Committee on Labor in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- commit-
   tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
   mitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the warehouse
   worker injury reduction program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "warehouse
 worker injury reduction program".
   § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature finds and declares that:
   (a) Workplace injuries can take a  terrible  toll  on  workers,  their
 families  and  their  communities,  and can create substantial costs for
 employers. According to recent data (2022) released  by  the  bureau  of
 labor  statistics,  the  warehouse  industry in New York state reports a
 rate of the most serious work-related injuries involving  lost  time  or
 restricted duty (7.8 cases/100 full-time workers) that is more than five
 times  the  average  rates  of  these  types of injuries for all private
 industry in New York state (1.5 cases/100 full-time workers).   In  2022
 alone,  there  were 5,472 workers injured in the warehousing industry in
 New York state.  The most common types of  work-related  serious  injury
 reported  by employers in the warehouse sector are musculoskeletal inju-
 ries, which often require workers to miss work  and  can  force  workers
 permanently out of the job and even out of the workforce.
   (b)  The  amount  and severity of injuries in New York's warehouses is
 having a direct impact on public health and safety. Each year, thousands
 of injured warehouse workers return to their  communities  with  chronic

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08912-04-4
              

co-Sponsors

2023-S5081C (ACTIVE) - Details

Law Section:
Labor Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §§780 & 786, add §789, Lab L

2023-S5081C (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the warehouse worker injury reduction program; requires employers to establish an injury reduction program designed to identify and minimize the risks of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders among workers involved in performing manual materials handling tasks.

2023-S5081C (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S5081C (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  5081--C
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 22, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  RAMOS,  ADDABBO,  BRESLIN, BRISPORT, CHU, COMRIE,
   FERNANDEZ, GONZALEZ, HOYLMAN-SIGAL,  JACKSON,  MANNION,  MAY,  PARKER,
   RIVERA,  SALAZAR,  SCARCELLA-SPANTON, SERRANO, SKOUFIS, STAVISKY, WEBB
   -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
   the Committee on Labor -- committee discharged, bill amended,  ordered
   reprinted  as amended and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted
   to the Committee on Labor in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8  --
   committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
   recommitted to said committee -- reported favorably from said  commit-
   tee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged,
   bill  amended,  ordered  reprinted  as amended and recommitted to said
   committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the warehouse
   worker injury reduction program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "warehouse
 worker injury reduction program".
   § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature finds and declares that:
   (a) Workplace injuries can take a  terrible  toll  on  workers,  their
 families  and  their  communities,  and can create substantial costs for
 employers. According to recent data (2022) released  by  the  bureau  of
 labor  statistics,  the  warehouse  industry in New York state reports a
 rate of the most serious work-related injuries involving  lost  time  or
 restricted duty (7.8 cases/100 full-time workers) that is more than five
 times  the  average  rates  of  these  types of injuries for all private
 industry in New York state (1.5 cases/100 full-time workers).   In  2022
 alone,  there  were 5,472 workers injured in the warehousing industry in
 New York state.  The most common types of  work-related  serious  injury
 reported  by employers in the warehouse sector are musculoskeletal inju-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08912-06-4
 S. 5081--C                          2
              

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