Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council (OSBCTC) Secretary-Treasurer Mike Knisley joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed Ohio House Bill 235, the High-Hazard Training Certification Act, which, if passed, would improve public safety by creating training standards for construction workers who work in Ohio refineries.
If passed, the bill would mandate that as of Jan. 1, 2024, 80 percent of contracted or subcontracted construciton workers in Ohio refineries come from registered apprenticeship programs.
The bill recently passed the Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee with strong bipartisan support, Knisley said. It will next go to the Ohio House, and if approved, the Ohio Senate.
Though big oil companies are opposed to the bill, Knisley noted it would not raise costs for refineries and may actually be cheaper. It would effectively solidify safety standards to keep workers and the community safe, he added.
Knisley also talked about the Central Ohio construction boom, as the regional building trades are tripling their recruitment efforts in order to man jobs.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.