Safety in employment: conveyances.
If enacted, AB 871 will elevate the safety standards by increasing the required work experience for certification from three years to four years in the conveyance industry. Importantly, individuals installing, servicing, or repairing residential conveyances will not be exempt from certification requirements as was previously the case. This change is expected to enhance the protection of both workers and the public by ensuring that only certified individuals are capable of performing such safety-sensitive tasks. However, the bill specifies that the Division will not conduct inspections of residential conveyances, which may affect local oversight and responsibilities.
Assembly Bill 871, introduced by Assembly Member Haney, focuses on enhancing safety standards in employment pertaining to the construction, service, repair, and testing of conveyances, which includes elevators and escalators. The bill amends several sections of the California Labor Code to require that individuals engaged in these tasks without supervision must be certified as competent mechanics by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The bill eliminates the previous exemption for residential conveyances, thus expanding safety regulations to apply more broadly, except for platform lifts and stairway chairlifts installed in private residences.
The sentiment around AB 871 is notably mixed. Supporters, including safety advocates and some industry professionals, argue that the bill is a necessary step towards protecting public safety and ensuring that only qualified individuals are working on potentially hazardous equipment. Conversely, some critics express concerns regarding increased regulatory burdens on small businesses and private homeowners, who may now face additional complexities in hiring qualified personnel for residential installations and maintenance.
A key point of contention involves the balance between ensuring public safety and maintaining local control over regulations. Critics argue that by imposing statewide certification requirements without local inspection protocols, the bill may undermine the ability of local agencies to address specific community needs or standards. Moreover, the removal of the exemption for residential conveyances may impose new challenges for homeowners and small contractors who previously operated under less stringent regulations. The bill's provision that no state reimbursement is required for local agencies regarding these changes may also elicit debate about the financial implications for local governments.