New Laws for 2003
Out with the old; in with the new. A variety new laws affecting building service contractors have gone into effect with the new year, including:

• The minimum wage in several states has increased. For instance, in Washington, workers must be paid at least $7.01 per hour, an 11-cent increase. Alaska’s has risen to $7.15 from $5.65. Both Oregon and Connecticut now require $6.90 per hour, up from $6.50 and $6.70, respectively. Also, minimum-wage workers in Hawaii and Maine will receive $6.25 per hour, a 50-cent raise in both states.

• In Washington state, workers from businesses of all sizes can use accrued paid time off to care for sick relatives, including not just minor children, but spouses, parents and disabled adult children. This goes beyond the federal Family Medical Leave Act, which allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, but only from companies with 50 or more workers. A state-funded family-leave program in California takes effect in 2004.

• Contractors in Iowa now can use electronic signatures on computer-based business documents, thanks to a change in the state’s corporations code.

• In Wisconsin, health insurers must cover diabetes medication, which could affect insurance premiums in the state.

• Workers in California will now need 60-day advance notice of mass downsizing or relocation. Under the new law, if 50 or more workers in a company of any size will be affected by layoffs or closure, or if the company moves more than 100 miles. This is in addition to existing federal laws.

For more information on new state laws, visit your state legislature’s Web site.

Keep Track of Worker Hearing Loss
Starting in 2004, employers will need to keep track of incidents of hearing loss, giving building service contractors another reason to equip operators of noisy machines with ear protection.

“The new recordkeeping standard requires employers to record work-related hearing-loss cases when an employee’s hearing test shows a marked decrease in overall hearing,” says John Henshaw, administrator for the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in a news release.

“Data from the new column will improve the nation’s statistical information on occupational hearing loss, improve the agency’s ability to determine where the injuries occur, and help prioritize hearing-loss prevention efforts,” Henshaw says.

Under the new criteria, employers will record 10-decibel shifts from the employee’s baseline hearing test when they also result in an overall hearing level of 25 decibels.

OSHA Clarifies Exit-Route Rule
In other news, OSHA revised its decades-old “means of egress” rule to make it more readable and eliminate inconsistencies.

The rule, renamed “Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans and Fire Prevention Plans,” covers design and construction requirements; maintenance, safeguards and operational requirements; and requirements for warning employees of the need to escape. The revised rule also allows employers to adopt the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code, instead of the OSHA standard for exit routes. The code provides similar protection to the OSHA standard, the agency explains.

Economic Census
Stand Up And Be Counted
Most U.S. building service contractors that have at least five employees should have received a 2002 Economic Census form in the mail late last year.

The Economic Census, conducted every five years and representing more than 96 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, helps the government track business trends, employment and the general health of the economy. The last Census occurred in 1998, and reflected the 1997 calendar year.

Business owners are required to fill out a form detailing the 2002 calendar-year economic activity of each of its locations. Contractors should fill out a form for each of their branch offices, but they do not need to consider customer sites to be locations, says Mike Bergman, public information officer for the Census.

Although completing these forms can be time-consuming, there are benefits for business owners once the data are released beginning in 2004.

“Janitorial companies can use the data to take a look at how they stack up against similar companies across the country — although they won’t be able to identify individual competitors,” says Bergman. “They also can use the data to look for places to expand, or secure operating capital, using the information to justify their business plan.”

Participation is required by law, and forms are due via mail or computer by Feb. 12. Deadline extensions, sample forms and help are available by calling

(877) 790-1876, or by visiting the Census’ Web site.




POSTED ON: 1/1/2003