Alexander L. Booker Child Protection Construction Site Safety Act has been introduced by Rep. Donna Edwards of Maryland. The text of the proposed legislation can be found here. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor as of Jun 26, 2009.

OSHA occasionally make amendments and minor changes to its regulations and publishes updates annually. There have not been significant changes in OSHA regulations for many years. The last push I recall was the Ergonomics Standard under the Clinton Administration. This was quickly cancelled by George W. Bush's Administration shortly in his first term. New OSHA regulations and amendments were not given much consideration during the Bush years.

Under the Obama Administration things may be set to change. Given the current presidents active legislative agenda OSHA may get another look.

The Alexander L. Booker Child Protection Construction Site Safety Act proposes several changes to address a construction site incident that left a boy dead from playing on construction equipment.

The new legislation proposes lockout devices for motorized equipment, increased fencing and signage preventing access to construction sites adjacent to populated areas.

This is significant because the legislation will require contractor firms and owners to spend additional money to retrofit existing equipment and purchase additional signage and fencing.

The legislation currently sits in committee with the future uncertain. It is my opinion that the legislation is worthy in its goals to protect the public and children specifically from construction hazards. As a father, it is important to teach my children the hazards of playing with heavy equipment and prevent them from being exposed to dangers.

Is it the responsibility of contractor firms to provide safe equipment on private property or the responsibility of parents/guardians to protect their own children? I think the answer is somewhere in between.

It will be interesting to see how this legislation progresses. I will post updates when something happens in regards to this legislation.