SB1478 - Occupational Safety and Health Omnibus

• Establishes a voluntary protection program where workplaces implementing model safety and health management systems are exempt from routine inspections, though exemption does not apply to complaints, fatalities, or catastrophes.

• Restructures occupational safety and health appeals process by requiring the office of administrative hearings (rather than internal administrative law judges) to conduct initial hearings on contested citations, with review board appeals available.

• Adds definitions for "model system" and "program" to Arizona's occupational safety and health statutes and requires the division to adopt standards for workplace participation including management leadership, hazard assessment, and employee training.

• Updates boiler and pressure vessel regulations to include pressure vessels in the definition and scope of equipment subject to inspection and certification requirements, and changes terminology from "lined hot water storage heaters" to "lined hot water heaters."

• Removes the requirement to establish an elevator advisory board while maintaining the division's authority to promulgate elevator safety standards and regulations.