Lawmakers reject Kentucky governor’s veto of work safety bill

Kentucky lawmakers on Monday overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto of a bill that will prevent the state from enacting any occupational safety and health standards more restrictive than those enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor.

H.B. 475 states that neither the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Standard’s Board nor the state’s Labor secretary may promulgate any workplace safety and health rules more stringent than those of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act. The House vote of 63-31 and Senate vote of 23-15, largely on party lines, overrode Gov. Beshear’s veto issued March 23.

The Republican-sponsored bill, which passed the state’s House and Senate earlier this month, does allow the state to retain the authority to enforce regulations pertaining to public employees since the OSH Act does not pertain to public workers.

Gov. Beshear said in a statement that he did not support the legislation “because it intentionally weakens health and safety protections for Kentucky workers.”