West Virginia Code 21-3A-1a – Legislative policy
The Legislature finds that the safety and health of public employees in the workplace is of primary public concern. Personal injuries and illnesses arising out of work situations result not only in wage loss and increased medical expenses for public employees, but also in decreased productivity and increased workers' compensation expenses for public employers. The Legislature therefore declares:
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 21-3A-1a
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Workplace: means a place where public employees are assigned to work but shall not include any place where public employees are assigned to work that is inspected and regulated in accordance with federal occupational safety and health standards or mine safety and health administration standards, or facilities under the authority of the department of corrections, the department of health, or the Legislature. See West Virginia Code 21-3A-2
(a) That it is the policy of this state to ensure that all public employees be provided with safe and healthful work environments free from recognized and avoidable hazards;
(b) That it is the responsibility of the state to promulgate standards for the protection of the health and safety of its public workforce; and
(c) That it is in the public interest for public employers and public employees to join in a cooperative effort to enforce these standards.