By Bob Katzen

The House gave final approval to a bill that provides all state and municipal workers with the same protections provided to private workers under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). The Senate gave near final approval to the same bill. Only final Senate approval is needed prior to the measure going to Gov. Charlie Baker.

Supporters say an average of 28 municipal workers per week suffer injuries serious enough to be out of work for five days or more. They noted this protection would cover some 450,000 state and local public workers who perform jobs that are sometimes just as dangerous as private sector ones.