Labor & Employment (Workplace Safety)

This bill requires all freight trains operating in Maine to have a minimum of two crew members directly operating the train, excluding those providing hostler or utility services. It amends Maine law (23 MRSA §7016) to mandate this two-person crew requirement for freight movement. The law directly affects freight train operators and rail companies conducting business within Maine. Key provisions specify that trains cannot operate with fewer than two people managing the train's operation during freight movement. The bill focuses on establishing a concrete safety standard for freight train operations in the state.

LD 1407 directs Maine's Board of Occupational Safety and Health to develop indoor air quality standards for buildings where public sector workers (such as teachers, government employees, and healthcare staff in public facilities) work. The bill requires the board to establish standards covering specific pollutants including carbon monoxide, mold, volatile organic compounds, and aerosols, with aerosol rules meeting or exceeding ASHRAE Standard 241 (2023). The board must publish proposed rules by February 15, 2026, under routine technical rule procedures. These standards will apply exclusively to public-sector workplaces, not private buildings.

LD 1774 establishes occupational safety and health standards for domestic workers in Maine, directly affecting nannies, caregivers, housekeepers, and other workers providing in-home services (excluding family members or pet sitters). The bill requires employers to provide written contracts covering wages, hours, rest breaks, and sick leave, and mandates the Bureau of Labor to create rules for safe working conditions, housing privacy, and access to protective equipment. Employers violating these rules face civil fines of $100-$1,000 per violation, and workers can pursue private lawsuits for damages of $100-$1,000 per violation. The law applies to all domestic workers in Maine, including live-in staff, and aligns with existing federal and state labor protections.