Washington bill would overhaul workplace safety in health care

Lawmakers in Washington state are scheduled to discuss a bill that proponents say would improve worker safety and patient care in health care facilities by addressing staffing needs, overtime, and meal and rest breaks.

The House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee has scheduled a session Jan. 26 on H.B. 1868, which has 44 sponsors and would require the Washington Department of Labor and Industries to regulate and enforce hospital staffing committees and minimum staffing standards.

The bill would also establish minimum staffing standards for specific patient units, amend the meal and rest breaks and overtime provisions for health care employees, and provide administrative enforcement and a private cause of action for violations.

The rules would not apply, however, “in a case of an unforeseeable emergent circumstance,” in a “clinical circumstance that may lead to a significant adverse effect on the patient” or “due to an unforeseen or unavoidable event requiring immediate action,” according to an analysis of the bill.