Labor & Employment (Workplace Safety) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

SJR 138: Designates April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day."

This bill designates April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day" throughout New Jersey to raise public awareness about workplace safety. It directly affects employers, employees, government agencies, and community members by encouraging them to collaborate on maintaining safe working environments. The key mechanism involves the Governor issuing an annual proclamation to call for appropriate activities and programs on this day. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or regulations but serves to highlight the importance of preventing work-related injuries and fatalities.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4137: Establishes "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" and occupational heat stress standard in DOLWD.

This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to create a new program and standard aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses and injuries in the workplace. It requires employers to develop and maintain a prevention plan and mandates specific actions when environmental heat levels exceed safe limits for workers. The regulations will apply to all employees, including those in agriculture, construction, and indoor settings without climate control, with rules to be finalized by June 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workforce Development Workplace Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4269: Concerns skilled and trained workforce requirements at certain high-hazard industrial facilities.

This New Jersey bill mandates that outside contractors working at high-hazard industrial facilities, such as chemical plants and refineries, must employ a skilled and trained workforce to improve public safety. To achieve this, the legislation requires contractors to pay workers at least the prevailing journeyperson wage or ensure they are enrolled in approved apprenticeship programs that include advanced safety training. Additionally, the bill specifies that a significant portion of journeyperson workers must be graduates of these registered apprenticeship programs to guarantee they have received proper classroom instruction and on-the-job supervision. These measures aim to reduce risks associated with accidents by ensuring that personnel handling hazardous materials possess the necessary expertise and experience.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workplace Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 14, 2026

A 5083: Concerns skilled and trained workforce requirements at certain high-hazard industrial facilities.

This New Jersey bill mandates that contractors working at high-hazard industrial facilities, such as chemical plants and refineries, must employ a skilled workforce to improve public safety. The law requires outside workers to either be paid at least the prevailing journeyperson wage or be enrolled in registered apprenticeship programs to ensure they have the necessary training and experience. Additionally, the bill stipulates that at least 60 percent of journeypersons working for a contractor must be graduates of an approved apprenticeship program, with a phase-in period included to avoid industry disruption. By enforcing these standards, the legislation aims to reduce the risk of accidents caused by untrained personnel while promoting workforce development through formal training pathways.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workforce Development Workplace Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

AJR 158: Designates April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day."

This bill designates April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about workplace safety. It directly affects employers, workers, government agencies, and communities by encouraging them to collaborate on maintaining safe working environments. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling for appropriate activities and programs to observe the day. The bill does not create new regulations or funding but serves as a commemorative measure to highlight the importance of preventing occupational injuries and fatalities.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3611: Requires payment of prevailing wage for certain data center construction.

This bill requires contractors working on data center construction projects with annual electrical usage of 5 megawatts or more to pay prevailing wages determined by New Jersey’s Labor Commissioner. It directly affects contractors building qualifying data centers by mandating compliance with wage standards, safety training (OSHA-10/30), drug testing, insurance requirements, and detailed payroll documentation. Key provisions include prohibiting temporary labor without registered apprenticeship enrollment, requiring joint liability for unpaid wages by subcontractors, and mandating weekly sign-in records. The bill was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.335, so it is not currently in effect.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workplace Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1597: Concerns occupational safety and health for public employees of certain interstate authorities.

This bill extends New Jersey's Public Employees' Occupational Safety and Health Act to cover employees of specific interstate authorities. It amends compacts with New York and Pennsylvania to require the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Delaware River Joint Commission, Delaware River and Bay Authority, and Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to be treated as "employers" under NJ's safety law. The bill mandates that the Governor negotiate supplemental agreements with these states to implement this coverage, ensuring employees of these agencies fall under NJ's (or a substantially similar PA/NY) safety standards. It directly affects public safety workers employed by these multi-state authorities, including police and firefighters. The legislation does not create new safety standards but applies existing protections to these specific entities.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1995: Establishes "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" and occupational heat stress standard in DOLWD.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor to establish a heat stress standard by June 2025, creating rules to protect workers from heat-related illness. It directly affects all employers in the state - including construction, agriculture, and indoor workplaces without climate control - by mandating written heat illness prevention plans. Key provisions include employer requirements for monitoring heat exposure, providing cool water (66-77°F or 35-65°F), paid rest breaks, shade or cooling areas, and emergency response protocols. The standard aims to address risks highlighted by rising temperatures and existing deaths from heat exposure, aligning with protections in other states like California and Oregon.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1973: Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD.

This bill establishes a state standard to protect New Jersey workers from heat-related illnesses and injuries by requiring employers to implement specific safety measures. It directly affects all employers and employees in New Jersey, including those in high-risk outdoor jobs (like construction and agriculture) and indoor settings without climate control. Key provisions mandate written prevention plans that include providing cool water (under 59°F), paid rest breaks in shaded or cooled areas, monitoring heat exposure, and activating a heat alert system during forecasted heat waves - requiring adjustments like shifting work schedules or increasing rest breaks. Employers must develop these plans within 30 days of the law's effective date, with the Department of Labor setting the heat stress standard by June 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3822: Establishes State occupational safety and health standard for toilets at construction sites.

This bill establishes new state occupational safety standards for toilet facilities at New Jersey construction sites. It requires employers to provide at least one separate toilet facility for each gender per 20 employees (or fraction thereof), with exceptions for sites with four or fewer workers. The law mandates clean, well-maintained facilities with privacy, handwashing supplies (or sanitizer if water isn't available), and proper lighting for night work. These standards, which exceed current federal recommendations, apply to all construction employers - including state agencies - and take effect once New Jersey's proposed state OSH plan is approved by the federal government.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

All labor & employment bills