New York Bill Introduced to Boost Warehouse Worker Safety
New York lawmakers have introduced a new bill, S.B. 5081, to strengthen safety measures for warehouse workers. This bill builds upon the existing Warehouse Worker Protection Act (S.B. 8922) that was passed in December 2022. The new bill requires companies with workers engaged in manual materials handling tasks to develop an injury reduction plan to minimize the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders such as tendonitis, arthritis, sprains, and strains.
This plan includes hiring a certified ergonomist to evaluate the worksite and gather input from workers. An ergonomist is a professional who studies, designs, and evaluates human work systems with the goal of optimizing the performance and safety of those systems. The bill also includes protections against retaliation to protect any worker who reports any issues. Furthermore, employers must promptly address any risk factors that have caused or could potentially cause musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.