Hawaii is starting to get its act together when it comes to workplace safety and the feds are taking notice.

The Obama administration is letting the state reassume responsibility for regulating manufacturing industries, according to an announcement Friday.

Here’s the news:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division have shared regulatory responsibility for Hawaii per an agreement that clearly divides enforcement responsibilities. The Operational Status Agreement (OSA) went into effect last September and was designed to jointly rebuild and strengthen the safety and health regulatory environment in Hawaii. The OSA, a procedural agreement, provides a roadmap for how the OSHA and DLIR’s HIOSH will work together to meet safety and health goals and assure safe and healthful working conditions for Hawaii’s workers. 

“By continuing to work together closely with OSHA, and in partnership with employers, we are on track in rebuilding the HIOSH program. A strong HIOSH not only lowers injury and illness rates, but also improves the overall work environment and accountability,” said Governor Neil Abercrombie. “This Administration is committed to restoring the state’s ability to assure workplace safety and health.” 

The agreement suspended HIOSH’s enforcement authority in specific industries where OSHA assumed responsibility for enforcement until the State is able to be “at least as effective” as OSHA. The partnership allows OSHA to commit the resources and staff necessary to provide the training and support, which will enable HIOSH to reassume sole enforcement authority in the State. HIOSH will progressively resume authority over industries as it rebuilds capacity during the three-year period outlined in the agreement. The return of the Manufacturing sector to HIOSH jurisdiction is the first sector that was scheduled in the OSA to return to HIOSH. 

“One of my first and ongoing priorities in the department has been the restoration of HIOSH,” said DLIR Director Dwight Takamine. “Much of that effort has involved staff recruitment for the division and continuously seeking advice and help from our federal partners. The return of the Manufacturing sector to our jurisdiction recognizes that we are hitting those milestones necessary to re-establish meaningful safety and health regulation, although the work is not finished.” 

The progress being made to improve worker safety and health in Hawaii through this cooperative effort is encouraging to see,” said Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. “HIOSH, and all of our State partners are an integral part of the national OSHA effort to level the playing field by enforcing rules that everyone must follow to strengthen our economy, prevent serious injuries and illnesses, and save lives. 

“Enforcement responsibilities are clearly divided to ensure that no one in the employer community needs to be confused about which agency is regulating their industry during the agreement,” said HIOSH Advisory Board Chair Chuck Beneke. “We are continuing to conduct outreach to the employer community to minimize confusion as to which agency has jurisdiction as well as the safety and health standards that are applicable.” 

The state announced Thursday evening that 10 tenants of Unicold Corporation’s refrigerated food warehouse in Honolulu were facing thousands of dollars in fines for dozens of violations. 

Learn more here.

— Nathan Eagle

HIOSH inspections and violations history, 2002 to 2011. (Courtesy of DLIR)