Minnesota House Bill HF1856

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/3/25
• Refer: 3/3/25

Caption

Automatic external defibrillators; AED worker safety requirements to establish access provided.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would amend existing labor laws under Minnesota Statutes, providing a structured safety requirement that could have significant implications for employee health and safety standards in the workplace. With the new law, there's a clear expectation for employers to maintain not just the presence of AEDs but also ensure effective training and readiness among staff. This could potentially lead to reduced fatalities in emergency situations involving cardiac arrest, as the barriers to timely response are lowered.

Summary

HF1856 is a proposed bill in Minnesota aimed at enhancing worker safety requirements specifically in relation to access to automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill mandates employers to provide reasonable access to AEDs for employees at warehouse distribution centers, allowing for immediate response in case of sudden cardiac events. Additionally, the legislation outlines training protocols for employees to ensure they can effectively operate AEDs. Employers are required to ensure that trained personnel are within a specified distance of employees, ensuring prompt action during emergencies.

Contention

While the bill is generally seen as a step forward in worker safety, there could be ongoing debates regarding the implications for businesses, particularly smaller firms with fewer resources. Some stakeholders may express concerns over the financial burden that mandatory AED provision and training could impose on employers. Moreover, the effectiveness of the training and accessibility could become focal points in discussions about the bill, as the nuances of 'reasonable access' and 'timely training' are defined, which may vary across different workplace environments.