Bill Overview
Title: Wind Safety Standard Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a standard for preventing workplace injuries caused by high winds (i.e., winds of such velocity that the winds could blow an employee from an elevated location, cause an employee to lose control of equipment or material, or expose an employee to other hazards).
Sponsors: Rep. Bush, Cori [D-MO-1]
Target Audience
Population: People working in industries exposed to high winds
Estimated Size: 10000000
- The bill addresses workplace injuries caused by high winds, implying it targets industries where employees are exposed to elevated locations or hazardous weather conditions.
- High-wind occupations might include construction, maintenance of tall structures, agriculture, utilities, and wind turbine maintenance or installation.
- Globally, the construction industry alone employs millions. In 2022, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that the construction sector employed over 300 million people worldwide.
- Utilities and energy sectors, which include a growing wind energy sector, employ millions globally as well.
Reasoning
- The policy is most likely to impact individuals in industries susceptible to high winds, such as construction, energy (especially wind energy), and utilities.
- Construction and energy sectors employ a large number of workers often exposed to high winds, but this accounts for a minority of the total workforce.
- The policy budget suggests that while significant impact is possible in targeted areas, the broad scope of influence across all possible industries is limited.
- The simulation includes a mix of those directly affected, those indirectly affected, and those not affected to give a comprehensive view of its potential impact.
Simulated Interviews
Wind Turbine Technician (Texas)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel safer knowing there are more regulations to protect us from high winds.
- It's always a concern working so far off the ground.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Construction Worker (California)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial we have standards like these, especially during stormy seasons.
- I'd worry about accidents a lot less.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Farmer (Kansas)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring policies consider windy conditions, though direct impact on farming is minimal.
- I'm more worried about my crops than myself.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Building Inspector (Florida)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will ensure more stringent safety checks; it's beneficial.
- My job feels more secure knowing safety is a priority.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Roofer (New York)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that makes my job safer is a positive step.
- We need good practice guidelines for when conditions are tough.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Telecommunications Line Installer (Illinois)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate tighter controls when weather gets rough; it's important for safety.
- Hope it also means quicker emergency response initiatives.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Tree Faller (Oregon)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any move to better our working conditions is welcome.
- Sometimes conditions can be unpredictable, and safety becomes a real concern.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired Wind Engineer (New Mexico)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy is critical for the new workforce as weather shifts more erratically.
- It's an overdue consideration for both current workers and planning.
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 |
Warehouse Manager (Ohio)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not directly affected but always striving to enhance safety for any field is crucial.
- We have strong protocols in place already and it's beneficial to know regulations are escalating up.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Wind Farm Site Manager (Minnesota)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is definitely in alignment with our best practices.
- We'll be able to adopt more rigorous procedures for safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $225000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $270000000)
Year 3: $200000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $240000000)
Year 5: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 10: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- Achieving compliance across various industries may take time.
- Inter-agency collaboration with sectors like energy and construction will be crucial for implementation.
- Long-term savings through reduced healthcare and compensation costs will benefit society, albeit indirectly.