Resolution 190671
Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to support the Jake Schwab Worker’s Safety Bill, House Bill 1082 and Senate Bill 464.
Introduced by
From the floor
Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.
“Good morning, Council President Clarke and members of City Council. I am Ethelind Baylor, Vice President of AFSCME District Council 47. I am here today supporting Resolution 190671 introduced by Councilmembers Henon and Parker concerning PA House Bill No. 1082 and Senate Bill 464 entitled the "Jake Schwab Worker's Safety Bill." Stated Meeting September 19, 2019 Did you know that private-sector workers have more workp…”
Ms. Baylor · Stated Meeting, September 19, 2019 · Sep 19, 2019 · official transcript, this passage
“The ayes have it. Resolution 190671 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 190675.”
Council President Clarke · Stated Meeting, September 19, 2019 · Sep 19, 2019 · official transcript, this passage
Status timeline
- Sep 12, 2019Introduced and Ordered Placed On Next Week's Final Passage Calendar · CITY COUNCIL
- Sep 19, 2019ADOPTED · CITY COUNCIL
Official documents
Documents open on the City of Philadelphia’s legislative site.
Full text
Read the full text as published
..Title Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to support the Jake Schwab Worker's Safety Bill, House Bill 1082 and Senate Bill 464. ..Body WHEREAS, The majority of private sector workers in the United States are covered by health and safety regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA); and WHEREAS, The number of workers killed on the job in the United States has declined from approximately 14,000 in 1970, when OSHA was created, to 4,674 in 2009, despite the fact that overall employment more than doubled during that period; and WHEREAS, Local and state government employees, including those in the City of Philadelphia, are generally not covered by OSHA, even though they perform similar job functions and are exposed to similar risks as private-sector employees; and WHEREAS, The Jake Schwab Worker's Safety Bill would extend protections similar to those provided for under OSHA to local and state government employees in Pennsylvania, at no or minimal cost to local governments; and WHEREAS, Jake Schwab had worked as a mechanic for the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority for 27 years when he was killed on the job by an exploding air bag; and WHEREAS, At the time of his death, Mr. Schwab was working on an unfamiliar bus from another agency, using tools that were inappropriate for the job because the proper tools were not available, and there had been no safety training is his garage for over 9 years; and WHEREAS, Mr. Schwab's death did not even warrant an OSHA investigation because he was a public employee; and WHERAS, If Mr. Schwab had been covered by OSHA, health and safety regulations may have prevented his untimely death; and WHEREAS, Preventable deaths like Mr. Schwab's are particularly tragic, especially for the loved ones they leave behind; and WHEREAS, The public servants who have dedicated their careers to this community deserve the same health and safety protections as their colleagues in the private sector; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Urges the Pennsylvania General Assembly to support the Jake Schwab Worker's Safety Bill, House Bill 1082 and Senate Bill 464. ..End