Labor & Employment (Workplace Safety)

SB 2275 would create a new Office of Workplace Safety and Health within Mississippi's Department of Health, directly affecting all employers (including public employers) and workers across the state. The office would establish and enforce occupational safety and health standards, conduct inspections (including mandatory annual visits to workplaces using child labor), and collect data on work-related injuries. It would also handle child labor enforcement, requiring inspections of mills and factories employing minors, and coordinate with federal OSHA without replacing its authority. The bill specifies the office could develop safety rules, provide employer consultations, and impose fines for non-compliance with safety or child labor regulations.