The Labor-Management Advisory Council of the Montana Department of Labor & Industry has directed its Safety Committee to move forward with a draft of enabling legislation for the Legislature to consider next year that would have the state administer and enforce the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).
The LMAC will finalize the draft at its September 9 meeting in conjunction with the Annual Workers’ Compensation Conference in Big Sky. Once the draft is finalized, it will be submitted to federal OSHA for review and approval.
If the 2015 Legislature approves the enabling legislation, the state of Montana must adopt an administration and enforcement plan for the federal OSHA’s approval. Montana must then secure matching funds from the Congress in 2016, setting the stage for funding authorization by the Montana Legislature in the 2017 session.
