Bill Overview
Title: Safe Workplaces Act
Description: This bill requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to promulgate an occupational safety and health standard on reducing the threat of workplace violence, including firearm violence. Additionally, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health must study and make recommendations about ways to reduce workplace violence. OSHA must consider those recommendations when promulgating the workplace safety and health standard.
Sponsors: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Target Audience
Population: People employed in sectors where workplace violence is a risk
Estimated Size: 150000000
- The bill addresses workplace safety concerns, affecting all employees across various sectors.
- Globally, millions are employed in sectors where workplace violence is a risk, and the bill seeks to mitigate such threats.
- According to the International Labour Organization, the global workforce is over 3 billion - a significant proportion of which would be exposed to workplace violence risks.
- Workplace violence can occur in any sector, but is more common in healthcare, social services, and law enforcement.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to reduce the threat of workplace violence, which can lead to improved well-being for employees and their families.
- The cost of implementation per person is approximately $33 over 10 years, which is feasible within the given budget constraints.
- The policy impacts a wide range of sectors, with particularly high relevance in those with elevated risks of workplace violence, such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement.
- Since the target population is vast, the impact on individuals may vary significantly based on their exposure to workplace violence risks.
- Not all sectors will experience the same level of benefit from the policy, as some workplaces already have significant safety measures in place.
Simulated Interviews
nurse (New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have seen night shifts get particularly risky, and any move to make our workplace safer is a welcome change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
software developer (California)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems important, but it won't directly impact my work life as I work remotely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
teacher (Texas)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhancing safety measures at school is crucial; it makes teaching less stressful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
security guard (Illinois)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that can help make our jobs safer is much needed; this policy could be a life-saver.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
barista (Florida)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to know there could be more focus on keeping us safe in the evenings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
police officer (New Mexico)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies that aim to reduce workplace violence are necessary for community safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
human resources manager (Ohio)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could help us implement more comprehensive safety programs, reducing employee anxiety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
firefighter (Michigan)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved guidelines and support could make emergency responses safer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
customer service representative (Georgia)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could be beneficial in reducing stress in customer interactions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
factory worker (Pennsylvania)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our workplace is already quite safe, though any extra steps to keep violence at bay couldn't hurt.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $700000000)
Year 2: $450000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $600000000)
Year 3: $400000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $550000000)
Year 5: $350000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $500000000)
Year 10: $200000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $300000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $150000000)
Key Considerations
- The assumption that OSHA can efficiently manage the implementation of new standards across various sectors with existing and additional resources.
- Uncertainties in estimating savings from reduced workplace violence due to variabilities in incident rates and reporting across sectors.