Refinery and chemical plants.

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details about how employees who are and are not represented by an authorized collective bargaining agent participate in plan development. This information was removed to avoid speculation.

Worker Safety Plans for Refineries and Chemical Plants

The bill requires employers in refineries and chemical plants to work with employees to create safety plans, including emergency procedures and reporting hazards.

What This Bill Does

• Requires employers to develop a written plan that includes employee participation in all aspects of process safety management.
• By April 1, 2027, employers must create stop-work procedures and hazard-reporting processes with employees.
• Employers need to document information about shutdowns and hazards.

Who It Names or Affects

• Employers at refineries and chemical plants
• Employees working at refineries and chemical plants

Terms To Know

Process Safety Management (PSM)

A system to prevent accidental releases of toxic, reactive, flammable or explosive chemicals that could harm workers.

Emergency Action Plan

A plan designed to facilitate and organize employee evacuation or sheltering in place during an emergency situation.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify penalties for non-compliance.
• It is unclear how the changes will be enforced by regulatory bodies.

Official Summary Text

SB 966, as amended, Gonzalez.
Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program.
Refinery and chemical plants.
Existing law, the California Refinery and Chemical Plant Worker Safety Act of 1990, requires the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to promote worker safety through implementation of training and process safety management practices in refineries, chemical plants, and other appropriate facilities, including by adopting process safety management standards and regulations. The act defines “process safety management” and other terms for its purposes. The act also requires an employer to develop and maintain written safety information, emergency action plans, operating procedures, procedures to manage changes, and inspection and testing programs.
This bill would require an employer, in consultation with employees and employee representatives, to develop, implement, and
maintain a written plan to effectively provide for employee participation in all process safety management elements. The bill would also require, on or before April 1, 2027, an employer, in consultation with employee and employee representatives, to develop and implement stop work procedures and procedures for reporting and responding to hazards, as specified. The bill would require an employer to document specific information relating to a partial or complete shut down of an operation or process and reports of hazards. The bill would provide how employees who are and who are not represented by an authorized collective bargaining agent participate in the development of these plans and procedures.
Existing law establishes the Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program, administered by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, to provide grants for the purpose of providing funding for existing apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs or to develop new apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs to serve the target population of specified individuals from 16 to 24 years of age, inclusive, and satisfy the goals and objectives of the grant program, as specified.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to the provision establishing the goals and objectives of the grant program.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF