04/17/1997 01:34 PM Senate L&C

            HB 118 REPORTING OF EMPLOYMENT ACCIDENTS                          
                                                                              
 CHAIRMAN LEMAN announced  HB 118  to be up for consideration.                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  MR. PERKINS  said that HB 118 would shorten the time frame for an            
 employer's reporting of an accident that is fatal to an employee or           
 that requires inpatient hospitalization.  Changes would also be               
 made regarding the manner in which the report is to be made and the           
 information that is to be included.  To maintain our State                    
 Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Program, our standards must             
 be at least as effective as federal standards and these changes               
 will bring us into compliance with federal law and there is no                
 fiscal note.                                                                  
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked if there had been any opposition expressed.              
 MR. PERKINS replied no.                                                       
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked if federal law required reporting of a fatal             
 accident within eight hours.  MR. PERKINS replied yes.  CHAIRMAN              
 LEMAN asked if that had ever been a problem with businesses in                
 Alaska before.  MR. PERKINS replied no and agreed this did not                
 exclude use of a short wave radio.                                            
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN LEMAN said he would hold HB 118 until next Tuesday.