House approves Harkins bill bringing OSHA standards to public workers
Rep. Patrick J. Harkins April 9, 2025 | 3:05 PM
HARRISBURG, April 9 – State Rep. Pat Harkins, D-Erie, is applauding a pivotal achievement in worker safety with the passage of H.B. 308 in the state House of Representatives, a bill designed to bring OSHA protections to public sector employees across Pennsylvania.
The bill, inspired by the tragic death of Erie resident Jake Schwab, marks a significant step toward ensuring safer workplaces for Pennsylvania's public servants.
“Today, we honor Jake Schwab's memory and the countless public employees who dedicate their lives to serving our communities,” Harkins said. “This legislation is about fairness, dignity, and the fundamental right to a safe workplace. Public sector workers deserve the same protections as their private sector counterparts, and House Bill 308 ensures that no worker is left behind."
Schwab, a mechanic with the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority, lost his life in a workplace accident in 2014. His death highlighted the glaring disparity in safety standards between private and public sector employees. House Bill 308, also known as the Jake Schwab Worker Safety Bill, seeks to close this gap by providing public employees with the same OSHA protections that private sector workers have enjoyed for decades.
The bill would establish workplace health and safety standards for public employees, empower the state secretary of Labor and Industry to enforce those standards, and create a Pennsylvania Occupational Safety and Health Review Board to oversee compliance. It also would impose penalties for violations, ensuring accountability and adherence to safety protocols.
Harkins expressed gratitude to his colleagues in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for their bipartisan support of the bill.
"This is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together for the greater good,” he said. “I am proud to stand with my fellow legislators in making Pennsylvania a safer place to work."
The bill passed 111-92 and now heads to the state Senate for consideration.