Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Public Employment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 182 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request a study to address the following issues relating to refuse collection workers:

1. Occupational safety and health risks, if any, to garbage collection workers; and
2. Comparison of occupational risks associated with refuse collection workers with those associated with fire fighters, police officers, investigators and water safety officers under section 88-74, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Supportive testimony was submitted by the United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO and concerned refuse collection workers. The Department of Health supported the intent of the concurrent resolution, but noted some reservations. Testimony in opposition was submitted by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR).

Your Committee is concerned that refuse collection workers may be exposed, because of the nature of their work, to hazardous material that could pose a risk to their health and safety. Accordingly, your Committee believes that a study should be conducted to assess the occupational health and safety risks, if any, associated with refuse collection.

For the purpose of clarification, your Committee has amended this measure by:

1. Changing the term "garbage" to "refuse" in the title of the measure. As amended, the concurrent resolution is entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY RELATING TO THE OCCUPATIONAL AND HEALTH RISKS OF COUNTY REFUSE COLLECTION WORKERS";

2. Changing the term "garbage" to "refuse" as it appears in the body of the measure; and
3. Making technical, non-substantive amendments for purposes of clarity, style, and conformity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 182, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 182, H.D. 1.