Hawaii resumes control of manufacturing enforcement

Honolulu – The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division has resumed enforcement authority over the state’s manufacturing sector.

The Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced the change Sept. 13, citing improvements in the state’s program. DLIR and OSHA began sharing enforcement duties last September due to deficiencies in the state’s OSHA program. HIOSH must prove it can provide enforcement that is “at least as effective” as federal OSHA before resuming sole enforcement authority.

DLIR Director Dwight Takamine said he has been recruiting staff for HIOSH and seeking advice from federal OSHA.

“The return of the manufacturing sector to our jurisdiction recognizes that we are hitting those milestones necessary to re-establish meaningful safety and health regulation, although the work is not finished,” Takamine said in a press release.