Addabbo bill to cut down on workplace injuries in state agencies approved by State Senate

Legislation (S.6464) sponsored by NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. to help reduce state workforce injuries and save on disability and workers’ compensation costs has been approved by the full State Senate.

“The benefits of this legislation are two-fold,” said Addabbo, who serves as a member of the Senate Civil Service Committee. “First and foremost, having state agencies better assess and seek to prevent workplace injuries with specific action plans will help to ensure that fewer employees get hurt on the job and suffer pain and lost days from the workplace,” he said. “Second, a reduction in workplace injuries could provide savings in disability and workers’ compensation payments by the state, which could ultimately lead to lower government and taxpayer costs.”

Under current law, the president of the NYS Civil Department of Civil Service prepares an annual report describing occupational injuries, illnesses and workers’ compensation claims for all state agencies. However, there is no requirement that the agencies actually respond to the report with recommendations on how best to reduce and prevent workplace injuries.

Known as the “State Workforce Injury Reduction Act,” Addabbo’s legislation would change current law to ensure that state government agencies – in consultation with employee representatives and in response to the yearly Civil Service Department report – develop specific written action plans providing concrete steps to keep employees from getting hurt.

“In short, this legislation would make sure action is actually taken to reduce and prevent employee accidents and other on-the-job health risks,” Addabbo said. “As a result, fewer workers will suffer pain, medical intervention and lost productivity, and state agencies will not need to pay out as much in disability and workers’ compensation. These savings could then be passed on to taxpayers or put to other beneficial uses.”

Under the bill, state agency representatives, employees and union representatives would work together to develop the required action plans. “My overall goal in sponsoring this bill is to create safer workplaces, increase state agency efficiency and productivity, and help reduce taxpayer costs,” Addabbo said. “I hope my legislative colleagues will continue to work with me to bring this bill closer to law.”

Having passed the State Senate, the legislation is now under consideration by the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees.