New York Governor Signs Workplace Safety Bill for Schools — Occupational Health & Safety

New York Governor Signs Workplace Safety Bill for Schools

The legislation aims to address workplace violence statewide.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Sep 07, 2023

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is taking steps to improve workplace safety throughout the state.

On September 6, Hochul enacted legislation which requires public schools in New York to develop and execute programs to prevent workplace violence. This brings schools into alignment with the safety standards expected of other public employers and potentially sets the stage for similar moves across the country.

“Why is it that every other workplace matters that there be a requirement that there is a plan in place, except in schools and classrooms,” Governor Hochul said at the United Federation of Teacher, where she announced the law according to CBS News. “So the law does not include public schools, but after today, it sure will. We are signing legislation that will add public schools to this law.”

The legislation’s enactment is part of a wider package aimed at elevating the standards and quality of New York’s public schools. Among other measures, Governor Hochul has also introduced initiatives to boost staff diversity across schools and signed off on the initial funding from the $30 million Empire State Teacher Residency Program.

While New York is the first to implement such a stringent approach to school workplace safety, the move could inspire similar regulations in other states, reflecting a growing national concern for educator and student safety. Notably, OSHA does not currently have standards addressing workplace violence, per the agency’s website.