MN HF2616

Amends Minnesota Statutes section 182.666, subdivision 1 to create a civil remedy for injured employees when employers willfully or repeatedly violate occupational safety and health laws.

Employers remain subject to existing fines not exceeding $70,000 per violation, with a minimum fine of $5,000 for willful violations.

Employers become liable for damages to seriously injured employees or their legal representatives if the safety violation was a major contributing cause of the injury.

In cases of employee death resulting from the violation, employers are liable to the employee's heirs or next of kin.

Defines "serious injury" as an injury causing either more than $200,000 in medical expenses or at least 52 weeks of lost work time, with any recovery reduced by workers' compensation benefits already paid or payable.