Resolution to Require Good Standing on Safety Record Prior to Bidding on Public Work Projects

Whereas  Washington State Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) is responsible for investigating severe and major safety violations.1 Willful lack of adherence to L&I standards has occurred at major construction sites leading to debilitating injuries for workers2 and unsupervised minors.3   

Whereas  Washington State law does not require the listing of contractor safety violations as part of the bidding criteria for public works projects funded by taxpayers. 

Whereas Bidding for public works contracts do not require the contractor to provide a safety record and recently one municipality felt obligated to hire independent safety experts at great expense to the tax payer4 for the purpose of ensuring worker safety and reduction of  liability for major public works projects. 

Whereas  Washington State Labor and Industries code defines conditions for debarment of a contractor bidding on public works5 those conditions do not include serious or willful health or safety citations, violations or penalties and child labor L&I. 

WHEREAS  The State of Washington, in HB 16446 has amended the laws of protecting minors employed by contractors on public work projects. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That the Washington State Democratic Central Committee calls on the State Legislators to pass the “Safe Bidder Criteria,” requiring  contractors, submitting bids on Washington State public works projects of $500,000 or higher to provide a three-year history, complete with extenuating circumstances, for all serious or willful health and safety violations, issued by the Labor and Industries of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.  Contractors with three or more willful and serious safety violations shall be ineligible for bidding on public works projects. Contractors shall be eligible to bid on public works projects once they have maintained three consecutive years with [zero/fewer than three] willful and serious safety violations.

Submitted by James McRae, PCO  638 and Secretary of the 18th LD and Deken Letinich, assistant legislative Director for the Washington and N. Idaho District Council of Laborers 

References

[1] Washington State Industrial Safety and Health Act. 49.17 RCW https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.17&full=true

[2]  The Reflector Newspaper, 16-year old La Center boy loses legs at job site, Washington L&I investigating  https://www.thereflector.com/stories/16-year-old-la-center-boy-loses-legs-at-job-site-washington-li-investigating,333364? January 29th, 2024

[3] The Columbian, $44M Port of Longview rail project halted after the recent Rotschy work accident in Woodland. https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/jun/11/44m-port-of-longview-rail-project-halted-after-recent-rotschy-work-accident-in-woodland/ June 11, 2025

[4] The Columbian, Vancouver looks to exclude firms with safety violations from major projects as Rotschy’s record faces scrutiny. https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/jun/17/vancouver-looks-to-exclude-firms-with-safety-violations-from-major-projects-as-rotschys-record-faces-scrutiny/

[5} Washington State Department of Labor and Industry Website   “Contactors not allowed to Bid” https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/public-works-projects/strike-and-debar/contractors-not-allowed-to-bid

[6] Washington State House Bill 1644  2025 https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1644&Year=2025&Initiative=false

End

Submitted:   James McRae 18th LD Secretary