I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2876 
To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to expand cov-
erage under the Act, to increase protections for whistleblowers, to in-
crease penalties for high gravity violations, to adjust penalties for infla-
tion, to provide rights for victims or their family members, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 28, 2021 
Mr. COURTNEY (for himself, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. LARSON 
of Connecticut, Mr. MRVAN, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. DELAURO, 
Mr. SABLAN, Mr. DESAULNIER, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. MORELLE, Mr. GRI-
JALVA, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. GARAMENDI, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. SCHA-
KOWSKY, Mr. NORCROSS, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. OMAR, and 
Ms. SHERRILL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 
to expand coverage under the Act, to increase protections 
for whistleblowers, to increase penalties for high gravity 
violations, to adjust penalties for inflation, to provide 
rights for victims or their family members, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Protecting America’s Workers Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—COVERAGE OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, AUTHORIZED EM-
PLOYEE 
REPRESENTATIVES, 
VOLUNTARY 
EMERGENCY 
RE-
SPONDERS, AND APPLICATION OF ACT 
Sec. 101. Coverage of public employees. 
Sec. 102. Authorized employee representatives. 
Sec. 103. Application of Act. 
TITLE II—INCREASING WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS 
Sec. 201. Enhanced protections from retaliation. 
TITLE III—IMPROVING REPORTING, INSPECTION, AND 
ENFORCEMENT 
PART A—DUTIES AND STANDARDS 
Sec. 301. General duty of employers. 
Sec. 302. Occupational safety and health standards. 
PART B—INSPECTIONS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RECORDKEEPING 
Sec. 311. Posting of employee rights. 
Sec. 312. Employer reporting of work-related injuries, illness, deaths, and hos-
pitalizations; prohibition on discouraging employee reporting. 
Sec. 313. No loss of employee pay for inspections. 
Sec. 314. Investigations of fatalities and significant incidents. 
Sec. 315. Recordkeeping. 
PART C—CITATIONS 
Sec. 321. Period for issuance of a citation. 
Sec. 322. Prohibition on unclassified citations. 
PART D—RIGHTS OF VICTIMS AND FAMILIES 
Sec. 331. Rights of Victims and Families. 
PART E—PROCEDURE FOR ENFORCEMENT 
Sec. 341. Right to contest citations and penalties. 
Sec. 342. Correction of serious, willful, or repeated violations pending contest 
and procedures for a stay. 
Sec. 343. Inaction by the Review Commission. 
Sec. 344. Conforming amendments. 
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PART F—PENALTIES 
Sec. 351. Civil penalties. 
Sec. 352. Criminal penalties. 
Sec. 353. Prejudgment interest. 
TITLE IV—STATE PLANS 
Sec. 401. Concurrent enforcement authority and review of State occupational 
safety and health plans. 
Sec. 402. Evaluation of repeated violations in State plans. 
TITLE V—NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY 
AND HEALTH 
Sec. 501. Health hazard evaluations by the National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health. 
Sec. 502. Training and employee education. 
TITLE VI—EFFECTIVE DATE 
Sec. 601. Effective date. 
TITLE I—COVERAGE OF PUBLIC 
EMPLOYEES, 
AUTHORIZED 
EMPLOYEE 
REPRESENTA-
TIVES, 
VOLUNTARY 
EMER-
GENCY 
RESPONDERS, 
AND 
APPLICATION OF ACT 
SEC. 101. COVERAGE OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3(5) of the Occupational 
Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 652(5)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘but does not include’’ and all that 
follows through the period at the end and inserting ‘‘in-
cluding the United States, a State, or a political subdivi-
sion of a State.’’. 
(b) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to affect the application of section 18 of the Oc-
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cupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 
667). 
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES. 
Section 3 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 652) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(15) AUTHORIZED
EMPLOYEE
REPRESENTA-
TIVE.—The term ‘authorized employee representa-
tive’— 
‘‘(A) means any person or organization 
that for the purposes of this Act represents not 
less than one employee at an establishment, fac-
tory, plant, construction site, or other work-
place, or other environment where work is per-
formed by an employee for an employer; and 
‘‘(B) includes a representative authorized 
by employees, a representative of employees, or 
any other representative of an employee under 
this Act.’’. 
SEC. 103. APPLICATION OF ACT. 
Section 4(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health 
Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653(b)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and 
(4) as paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and 
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(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) If a Federal agency has promulgated and is en-
forcing a standard or regulation affecting occupational 
safety or health of some or all of the employees within 
that agency’s regulatory jurisdiction, and the Secretary 
determines that such a standard or regulation as promul-
gated and the manner in which the standard or regulation 
is being enforced provides protection to those employees 
that is at least as effective as the protection provided to 
those employees by this Act and the Secretary’s enforce-
ment of this Act, the Secretary may publish a certification 
notice in the Federal Register. The notice shall set forth 
that determination and the reasons for the determination 
and certify that the Secretary has ceded jurisdiction to 
that Federal agency with respect to the specified standard 
or regulation affecting occupational safety or health. In 
determining whether to cede jurisdiction to a Federal 
agency, the Secretary shall seek to avoid duplication of, 
and conflicts between, health and safety requirements. 
Such certification shall remain in effect unless and until 
rescinded by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish pro-
cedures by which any person who may be adversely af-
fected by a decision of the Secretary certifying that the 
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Secretary has ceded jurisdiction to another Federal agency 
pursuant to paragraph (1) may petition the Secretary to 
rescind a certification notice under such paragraph. Upon 
receipt of such a petition, the Secretary shall investigate 
the matter involved and shall, not later than 90 days after 
the receipt of the petition, publish a decision with respect 
to the petition in the Federal Register. 
‘‘(3) Any person who may be adversely affected by— 
‘‘(A) a decision of the Secretary certifying that 
the Secretary has ceded jurisdiction to another Fed-
eral agency pursuant to paragraph (1); or 
‘‘(B) a decision of the Secretary denying a peti-
tion to rescind such a certification notice under 
paragraph (1), 
may, not later than 60 days after such decision is pub-
lished in the Federal Register, file a petition challenging 
such decision with the United States Court of Appeals for 
the circuit in which such person resides or such person 
has a principal place of business, for judicial review of 
such decision. A copy of the petition shall be forthwith 
transmitted by the clerk of the court to the Secretary. The 
Secretary’s decision shall be set aside if found to be arbi-
trary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not 
in accordance with law. 
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‘‘(4) Nothing in this Act shall apply to working condi-
tions covered by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act 
of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.).’’. 
TITLE II—INCREASING 
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS 
SEC. 201. ENHANCED PROTECTIONS FROM RETALIATION. 
(a) EMPLOYEE ACTIONS.—Section 11(c)(1) of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 
660(c)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘discharge’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘because such’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘discharge or cause to be discharged, or in any man-
ner discriminate against or cause to be discriminated 
against, any employee because— 
‘‘(A) such’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘this Act or has’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘this Act; 
‘‘(B) such employee has’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘in any such proceeding or be-
cause of the exercise’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘before Congress or in any Federal or State pro-
ceeding related to safety or health; 
‘‘(C) such employee has refused to violate any 
provision of this Act; or 
‘‘(D) of the exercise’’; and 
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(4) by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘, including the reporting of any injury, 
illness, or unsafe condition to the employer, agent of 
the employer, safety and health committee involved, 
or employee safety and health representative in-
volved’’. 
(b) PROHIBITION OF RETALIATION.—Section 11(c) 
of such Act (29 U.S.C. 660(c)) is amended by striking 
paragraph (2) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) PROHIBITION OF RETALIATION.—(A) No person 
shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, or in any man-
ner discriminate against, or cause to be discriminated 
against, an employee for refusing to perform the employ-
ee’s duties if the employee has a reasonable apprehension 
that performing such duties would result in serious injury 
to, or serious impairment of the health of, the employee 
or other employees. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the cir-
cumstances causing the employee’s good-faith belief that 
performing such duties would pose a safety or health haz-
ard shall be of such a nature that a reasonable person, 
under the circumstances confronting the employee, would 
conclude that there is such a hazard. In order to qualify 
for protection under this paragraph, the employee, when 
practicable, shall have communicated or attempted to com-
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municate the safety or health concern to the employer and 
have not received from the employer a response reasonably 
calculated to allay such concern.’’. 
(c) PROCEDURE.—Section 11(c) of such Act (29 
U.S.C. 660(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) COMPLAINT.—Any employee who believes that 
the employee has been discharged, disciplined, or other-
wise discriminated against by any person in violation of 
paragraph (1) or (2) may seek relief for such violation 
by filing a complaint with the Secretary under paragraph 
(5). 
‘‘(4) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An employee may take the 
action permitted by paragraph (3) not later than 
180 days after the later of— 
‘‘(i) the date on which an alleged violation 
of paragraph (1) or (2) occurs; or 
‘‘(ii) the date on which the employee knows 
or should reasonably have known that such al-
leged violation occurred. 
‘‘(B) REPEAT
VIOLATION.—Except in cases 
when the employee has been discharged, a violation 
of paragraph (1) or (2) shall be considered to have 
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occurred on the last date an alleged repeat violation 
occurred. 
‘‘(5) INVESTIGATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An employee may, within 
the time period required under paragraph (4)(A), 
file a complaint with the Secretary alleging a viola-
tion of paragraph (1) or (2). If the complaint alleges 
a prima facie case, the Secretary shall conduct an 
investigation of the allegations in the complaint, 
which— 
‘‘(i) shall include— 
‘‘(I) interviewing the complainant; 
‘‘(II) providing the respondent an op-
portunity to— 
‘‘(aa) submit to the Secretary a 
written response to the complaint; and 
‘‘(bb) meet with the Secretary to 
present statements from witnesses or 
provide evidence; and 
‘‘(III) providing the complainant an 
opportunity to— 
‘‘(aa) receive any statements or 
evidence provided to the Secretary; 
‘‘(bb) meet with the Secretary; 
and 
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‘‘(cc) rebut any statements or 
evidence; and 
‘‘(ii) may include issuing subpoenas for the 
purposes of such investigation. 
‘‘(B) DECISION.—Not later than 90 days after 
the filing of the complaint, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) determine whether reasonable cause 
exists to believe that a violation of paragraph 
(1) or (2) has occurred; and 
‘‘(ii) issue a decision granting or denying 
relief. 
‘‘(6) PRELIMINARY ORDER FOLLOWING INVESTIGA-
TION.—If, after completion of an investigation under 
paragraph (5)(A), the Secretary finds reasonable cause to 
believe that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has oc-
curred, the Secretary shall issue a preliminary order pro-
viding relief authorized under paragraph (14) at the same 
time the Secretary issues a decision under paragraph 
(5)(B). If a de novo hearing is not requested within the 
time period required under paragraph (7)(A)(i), such pre-
liminary order shall be deemed a final order of the Sec-
retary and is not subject to judicial review. 
‘‘(7) HEARING.— 
‘‘(A) REQUEST FOR HEARING.— 
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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A de novo hearing on 
the record before an administrative law judge 
may be requested— 
‘‘(I) by the complainant or respondent 
within 30 days after receiving notification 
of a decision granting or denying relief 
issued under paragraph (5)(B) or a pre-
liminary order under paragraph (6), re-
spectively; 
‘‘(II) by the complainant within 30 
days after the date the complaint is dis-
missed without investigation by the Sec-
retary under paragraph (5)(A); or 
‘‘(III) by the complainant within 120 
days after the date of filing the complaint, 
if the Secretary has not issued a decision 
under paragraph (5)(B). 
‘‘(ii) REINSTATEMENT
ORDER.—The re-
quest for a hearing shall not operate to stay 
any preliminary reinstatement order issued 
under paragraph (6). 
‘‘(B) PROCEDURES.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—A hearing requested 
under this paragraph shall be conducted expedi-
tiously and in accordance with rules established 
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by the Secretary for hearings conducted by ad-
ministrative law judges. 
‘‘(ii) SUBPOENAS; PRODUCTION
OF
EVI-
DENCE.—In conducting any such hearing, the 
administrative law judge may issue subpoenas. 
The respondent or complainant may request the 
issuance of subpoenas that require the deposi-
tion of, or the attendance and testimony of, wit-
nesses and the production of any evidence (in-
cluding any books, papers, documents, or re-
cordings) relating to the matter under consider-
ation. 
‘‘(iii) DECISION.—The administrative law 
judge shall issue a decision not later than 90 
days after the date on which a hearing was re-
quested under this paragraph and promptly no-
tify, in writing, the parties and the Secretary of 
such decision, including the findings of fact and 
conclusions of law. If the administrative law 
judge finds that a violation of paragraph (1) or 
(2) has occurred, the judge shall issue an order 
for relief under paragraph (14). If review under 
paragraph (8) is not timely requested, such 
order shall be deemed a final order of the Sec-
retary that is not subject to judicial review. 
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sion and order shall constitute final agency action 
with respect to the matter appealed. 
‘‘(9) SETTLEMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROC-
ESS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—At any time before 
issuance of a final order, an investigation or pro-
ceeding under this subsection may be terminated on 
the basis of a settlement agreement entered into by 
the parties. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC POLICY CONSIDERATIONS.—Nei-
ther the Secretary, an administrative law judge, nor 
the review board conducting a hearing under this 
subsection shall accept a settlement that contains 
conditions conflicting with the rights protected under 
this Act or that are contrary to public policy, includ-
ing a restriction on a complainant’s right to future 
employment with employers other than the specific 
employers named in a complaint. 
‘‘(10) INACTION BY THE REVIEW BOARD OR ADMIN-
ISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The complainant may 
bring a de novo action described in subparagraph 
(B) if— 
‘‘(i) an administrative law judge has not 
issued a decision and order within the 90-day 
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time 
period 
required 
under 
paragraph 
(7)(B)(iii); or 
‘‘(ii) the review board has not issued a de-
cision and order within the 90-day time period 
required under paragraph (8)(C). 
‘‘(B) DE NOVO ACTION.—Such de novo action 
may be brought at law or equity in the United 
States district court for the district where a violation 
of paragraph (1) or (2) allegedly occurred or where 
the complainant resided on the date of such alleged 
violation. The court shall have jurisdiction over such 
action without regard to the amount in controversy 
and to order appropriate relief under paragraph 
(14). Such action shall, at the request of either 
party to such action, be tried by the court with a 
jury. 
‘‘(11) JUDICIAL REVIEW.— 
‘‘(A) TIMELY APPEAL TO THE COURT OF AP-
PEALS.—Any party adversely affected or aggrieved 
by a final decision and order issued under this sub-
section may obtain review of such decision and order 
in the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit 
where the violation, with respect to which such final 
decision and order was issued, allegedly occurred or 
where the complainant resided on the date of such 
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alleged violation. To obtain such review, a party 
shall file a petition for review not later than 60 days 
after the final decision and order was issued. Such 
review shall conform to chapter 7 of title 5, United 
States Code. The commencement of proceedings 
under this subparagraph shall not, unless ordered by 
the court, operate as a stay of the final decision and 
order. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION ON COLLATERAL ATTACK.— 
An order and decision with respect to which review 
may be obtained under subparagraph (A) shall not 
be subject to judicial review in any criminal or other 
civil proceeding. 
‘‘(12) ENFORCEMENT OF ORDER.—If a respondent 
fails to comply with an order issued under this subsection, 
the Secretary or the complainant on whose behalf the 
order was issued may file a civil action for enforcement 
in the United States district court for the district in which 
the violation was found to occur to enforce such order. 
If both the Secretary and the complainant file such action, 
the action of the Secretary shall take precedence. The dis-
trict court shall have jurisdiction to grant all appropriate 
relief described in paragraph (14). 
‘‘(13) BURDENS OF PROOF.— 
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‘‘(A) CRITERIA FOR DETERMINATION.—In mak-
ing a determination or adjudicating a complaint pur-
suant to this subsection, the Secretary, administra-
tive law judge, review board, or a court may deter-
mine that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has oc-
curred only if the complainant demonstrates that 
any conduct described in paragraph (1) or (2) with 
respect to the complainant was a contributing factor 
in the adverse action alleged in the complaint. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding subpara-
graph (A), a decision or order that is favorable to 
the complainant shall not be issued in any adminis-
trative or judicial action pursuant to this subsection 
if the respondent demonstrates by clear and con-
vincing evidence that the respondent would have 
taken the same adverse action in the absence of such 
conduct. 
‘‘(14) RELIEF.— 
‘‘(A) ORDER FOR RELIEF.—If the Secretary, 
administrative law judge, review board, or a court 
determines that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) 
has occurred, the Secretary, administrative law 
judge, review board, or court, respectively, shall have 
jurisdiction to order all appropriate relief, including 
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injunctive relief, compensatory and exemplary dam-
ages, including— 
‘‘(i) affirmative action to abate the viola-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) reinstatement without loss of position 
or seniority, and restoration of the terms, 
rights, conditions, and privileges associated with 
the complainant’s employment, including oppor-
tunities for promotions to positions with equiva-
lent or better compensation for which the com-
plainant is qualified; 
‘‘(iii) 
compensatory 
and 
consequential 
damages sufficient to make the complainant 
whole (including back pay, prejudgment inter-
est, and other damages); and 
‘‘(iv) expungement of all warnings, rep-
rimands, or derogatory references that have 
been placed in paper or electronic records or 
databases of any type relating to the actions by 
the complainant that gave rise to the unfavor-
able personnel action, and, at the complainant’s 
direction, transmission of a copy of the decision 
on the complaint to any person whom the com-
plainant reasonably believes may have received 
such unfavorable information. 
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‘‘(B) ATTORNEYS’ FEES
AND
COSTS.—If the 
Secretary or an administrative law judge, review 
board, or court grants an order for relief under sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary, administrative law 
judge, review board, or court, respectively, shall as-
sess, at the request of the employee against the em-
ployer— 
‘‘(i) reasonable attorneys’ fees; and 
‘‘(ii) costs (including expert witness fees) 
reasonably incurred, as determined by the Sec-
retary, administrative law judge, review board, 
or court, respectively, in connection with bring-
ing the complaint upon which the order was 
issued. 
‘‘(15) PROCEDURAL RIGHTS.—The rights and rem-
edies provided for in this subsection may not be waived 
by any agreement, policy, form, or condition of employ-
ment, including by any pre-dispute arbitration agreement 
or collective bargaining agreement. 
‘‘(16) SAVINGS.—Nothing in this subsection shall be 
construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies 
of any employee who exercises rights under any Federal 
or State law or common law, or under any collective bar-
gaining agreement. 
‘‘(17) ELECTION OF VENUE.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—An employee of an em-
ployer who is located in a State that has a State 
plan approved under section 18 may file a complaint 
alleging a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) by such 
employer with— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary under paragraph (5); or 
‘‘(ii) a State plan administrator in such 
State. 
‘‘(B) REFERRALS.—If— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary receives a complaint 
pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary 
shall not refer such complaint to a State plan 
administrator for resolution; or 
‘‘(ii) a State plan administrator receives a 
complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii), the 
State plan administrator shall not refer such 
complaint to the Secretary for resolution.’’. 
(d) RELATION TO ENFORCEMENT.—Section 17(j) of 
such Act (29 U.S.C. 666(j)) is amended by inserting be-
fore the period the following: ‘‘, including the history of 
violations under section 11(c)’’. 
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TITLE III—IMPROVING REPORT-
ING, INSPECTION, AND EN-
FORCEMENT 
PART A—DUTIES AND STANDARDS 
SEC. 301. GENERAL DUTY OF EMPLOYERS. 
Section 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 654(a)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by amending paragraph 
(1) to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) shall furnish employment and a place of 
employment that are free from recognized hazards 
that are causing or are likely to cause death or seri-
ous physical harm and that the employer creates or 
controls or to which the employer exposes any em-
ployee of the employer or any other person per-
forming work at the place of employment; and’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) Each employee or other person exposed to a haz-
ard in violation of subsection (a) may constitute a separate 
violation.’’. 
SEC. 302. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STAND-
ARDS. 
Section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Without regard’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(1) Without regard’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘chapter 5’’ and inserting 
‘‘chapters 5 and 6’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘shall, as soon as prac-
ticable’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘shall—’’ 
‘‘(A) as soon as practicable’’; 
(D) by striking ‘‘In the’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) In the’’; 
(E) by striking ‘‘designated employees.’’ 
and inserting ‘‘designated employees; and’’; 
(F) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) 
(as designated by subparagraph (A)) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) not later than 2 years after the effec-
tive date of section 601(a) of the Protecting 
America’s Workers Act, by rule update any na-
tional consensus standard that has been pro-
mulgated or incorporated by reference pursuant 
to this subsection, except that such a standard 
shall not be updated pursuant to this subpara-
graph, if— 
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‘‘(i) the standard has been superseded 
by a standard promulgated pursuant to 
subsection (b); or 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary determines such 
update would not result in improved health 
or safety for specifically designated em-
ployees.’’; and 
(G) in paragraph (2) (as designated by 
subparagraph (D)), by inserting ‘‘including na-
tional consensus standards, or in the event of a 
consolidation of national consensus standards,’’ 
after ‘‘conflict among any such standards,’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) No standard, rule, or regulation promulgated 
under this Act shall reduce the protection afforded by an 
existing health or safety standard, rule, regulation, or na-
tional consensus standard.’’. 
PART B—INSPECTIONS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND 
RECORDKEEPING 
SEC. 311. POSTING OF EMPLOYEE RIGHTS. 
Section 8(c)(1) of the Occupational Safety and 
Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 657(c)(1)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘Such regu-
lations shall include provisions requiring employers to post 
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for employees information on the protections afforded 
under section 11(c).’’. 
SEC. 312. EMPLOYER REPORTING OF WORK-RELATED INJU-
RIES, ILLNESS, DEATHS, AND HOSPITALIZA-
TIONS; PROHIBITION ON DISCOURAGING EM-
PLOYEE REPORTING. 
Section 8(c)(2) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 657(c)(2)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Such regula-
tions shall contain the following: 
‘‘(A) A requirement that employers promptly 
notify the Secretary of any work-related death or 
work-related injury or illness that results in the in- 
patient hospitalization of any employee for medical 
treatment, amputation, or loss of an eye. 
‘‘(B) A prohibition on the adoption or imple-
mentation by employers of policies or practices that 
have the effect of discouraging accurate record-
keeping and the reporting of work-related injuries or 
illnesses by any employee, or in any manner dis-
criminates or provides for adverse action against any 
employee for reporting a work-related injury or ill-
ness. 
‘‘(C) A requirement that, at a minimum, em-
ployers subject to the requirements of sections 
1904.41 and 1902.7(d) of title 29, Code of Federal 
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Regulations (as amended by the final regulations of 
the Department of Labor published in the Federal 
Register on May 12, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 29624 et 
seq.)) shall, on at least an annual basis, electroni-
cally report to the Secretary information from the 
records of work-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses 
required to be made and maintained under this 
paragraph, which shall include the information re-
quired to be made and maintained in accordance 
with such sections 1904.41 and 1902.7(d), and a re-
quirement that the Secretary make such reports 
available to the public in a searchable format. 
‘‘(D) A requirement that each site-controlling 
employer keep, maintain, and make available a site 
log for all recordable injuries and illnesses occurring 
for any employee at each work site for which the 
employer is the site-controlling employer, including 
employees of the site-controlling employer and others 
who are performing work at such site (including 
independent contractors). For purposes of this sub-
paragraph, the term ‘site-controlling employer’ 
means the employer that has primary control over a 
work site at which employees of more than one em-
ployer work, such as by hiring or coordinating the 
work of other employers working at the site.’’. 
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SEC. 313. NO LOSS OF EMPLOYEE PAY FOR INSPECTIONS. 
Section 8(e) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 657(e)) is 
amended by inserting after the first sentence the fol-
lowing: ‘‘Time spent by an employee participating in or 
aiding any such inspection shall be deemed to be hours 
worked and no employee shall suffer any loss of wages, 
benefits, or other terms and conditions of employment for 
having participated in or aided any such inspection.’’. 
SEC. 314. INVESTIGATIONS OF FATALITIES AND SIGNIFI-
CANT INCIDENTS. 
Section 8 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 657), as amended 
by sections 311 through 313, is further amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(i) INVESTIGATION OF FATALITIES AND SERIOUS 
INCIDENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall inves-
tigate any significant incident or an incident result-
ing in death that occurs in a place of employment. 
‘‘(2) EVIDENCE PRESERVATION.—If a signifi-
cant incident or an incident resulting in death oc-
curs in a place of employment, the employer shall 
promptly notify the Secretary of the incident in-
volved and shall take appropriate measures to pre-
vent the destruction or alteration of any evidence 
that would assist in investigating the incident. The 
appropriate measures required by this paragraph do 
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not prevent an employer from taking action on a 
worksite to prevent injury to employees or substan-
tial damage to property or to avoid disruption of es-
sential services necessary to public safety, provided 
that if an employer takes such action, the employer 
shall notify the Secretary of the action in a timely 
fashion. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) INCIDENT RESULTING IN DEATH.— 
The term ‘incident resulting in death’ means an 
incident that results in the death of an em-
ployee. 
‘‘(B) SIGNIFICANT
INCIDENT.—The term 
‘significant incident’ means an incident that re-
sults in the in-patient hospitalization of 2 or 
more employees for medical treatment.’’. 
SEC. 315. RECORDKEEPING. 
(a) RULE REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration shall issue a final rule amend-
ing its recordkeeping regulations under section 8(c) of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 
657(c)) to clarify that— 
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(1) the duty to make and maintain accurate 
records of work-related injuries and illnesses is an 
ongoing obligation; 
(2) the duty to make and maintain such records 
continues for as long as the employer is required to 
keep records of the recordable injury or illness; and 
(3) such duty does not expire solely because the 
employer fails to create the necessary records when 
first required to do so. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION.—Subsection (a) shall be consid-
ered a specific authorization by Congress in accordance 
with section 801(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, with 
respect to the issuance of a new recordkeeping rule. 
PART C—CITATIONS 
SEC. 321. PERIOD FOR ISSUANCE OF A CITATION. 
Section 9(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health 
Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 658(c)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: ‘‘For purposes of this subsection, 
a violation continues to occur for as long as an employer 
has not satisfied the requirements, rules, standards, or-
ders, and regulations referenced in subsection (a).’’. 
SEC. 322. PROHIBITION ON UNCLASSIFIED CITATIONS. 
Section 9 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 658) is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
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‘‘(d) No citation for a violation of this Act may be 
issued, modified, or settled under this section without a 
designation enumerated in section 17 with respect to such 
violation.’’. 
PART D—RIGHTS OF VICTIMS AND FAMILIES 
SEC. 331. RIGHTS OF VICTIMS AND FAMILIES. 
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 
U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
9 (29 U.S.C. 658) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 9A. VICTIMS’ RIGHTS. 
‘‘(a) RIGHTS BEFORE THE SECRETARY.—A victim or 
the representative of a victim, shall be afforded the right, 
with respect to an inspection or investigation conducted 
under section 8 to— 
‘‘(1) meet with the Secretary regarding the in-
spection or investigation conducted under such sec-
tion before the Secretary’s decision to issue a cita-
tion or take no action; 
‘‘(2) receive, at no cost, a copy of any citation 
or report, issued as a result of such inspection or in-
vestigation, at the same time as the employer re-
ceives such citation or report; 
‘‘(3) be informed of any notice of contest or ad-
dition of parties to the proceedings filed under sec-
tion 10(c); and 
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‘‘(4) be provided notification of the date and 
time or any proceedings, service of pleadings, and 
other relevant documents, and an explanation of the 
rights of the employer, employee and employee rep-
resentative, and victim to participate in proceedings 
conducted under section 10(c). 
‘‘(b) RIGHTS BEFORE THE COMMISSION.—Upon re-
quest, a victim or representative of a victim shall be af-
forded the right with respect to a work-related bodily in-
jury or death to— 
‘‘(1) be notified of the time and date of any 
proceeding before the Commission; 
‘‘(2) receive pleadings and any decisions relat-
ing to the proceedings; and 
‘‘(3) be provided an opportunity to appear and 
make a statement in accordance with the rules pre-
scribed by the Commission. 
‘‘(c) MODIFICATION OF CITATION.—Before entering 
into an agreement to withdraw or modify a citation issued 
as a result of an inspection or investigation of an incident 
under section 8, the Secretary shall notify a victim or rep-
resentative of a victim and provide the victim or represent-
ative of a victim with an opportunity to appear and make 
a statement before the parties conducting settlement nego-
tiations. In lieu of an appearance, the victim or represent-
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