Sitnews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska - News, Features, Opinions...

 

OSHA Approves Changes to Alaska & Washington State Plans;
To Assume Jurisdiction over Indian-owned Establishments,
Native Healthcare Facilities

 

April 20, 2004
Tuesday


Washington, DC - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has approved changes in coverage in the Washington and Alaska occupational safety and health plans that will transfer coverage of Indian-owned establishments, native health care facilities, and certain military bases to Federal OSHA. The agency announced the changes in Monday's Federal Register.

OSHA will assume jurisdiction over Indian-owned establishments on Indian reservations or federal Trust lands in Washington and federally owned native health care facilities and certain military installations in Alaska.

OSHA's agreement with Washington allows the state to exclude from its enforcement responsibility all federally recognized Indian tribes, extending the state plan exclusion previously established for the Yakama Indian Nation and Colville Confederated Tribes. Washington will retain jurisdiction over non-member private sector and state and local government employers located within the reservations or on Trust lands, and member employers located outside the reservations or Trust lands.

OSHA's approval of changes to the Alaska state plan allows the state to exclude coverage of native health care facilities that are federally owned and contractor operated, and of certain military installations, including four missile defense facilities and four Coast Guard facilities. Federal jurisdiction includes coverage of private contractors working on the military installations. The state retains jurisdiction over construction and contract maintenance at these Native health care facilities.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 encourages states and territories to develop and operate their own job safety and health programs. States must set job safety and health standards that are "at least as effective as" comparable federal standards. OSHA approves and monitors State plans and provides up to 50 percent of an approved plan's operating costs.

 

Source of News Release:

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Web Site

 

 

E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.org


Post a Comment
        View Comments
Submit an Opinion - Letter

Sitnews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska