Comments Document

Vita Inclinata Technologies designs and manufactures intelligent load stabilization systems for the industrial/construction and aerospace industries. I would like to express our full support for House Bill 1392. HB 1392 enables safer crane operations by allowing the use autonomous load stability mechanisms during hoisting operations. Moreover, HB 1392 keeps the Commonwealth’s industrial workplace safety policies up to date with proven emerging technologies that are truly innovative, dramatically reduce or eliminate risk of injury or death, and drive operational efficiencies. Currently, Virginia relies on Federal OSHA guidelines for many of its workplace safety policies, such as the outdated regulation mandating the use of a handheld tag line during crane operations. A tag line is essentially a rope attached to the bottom of a crane load that is used to manually control the load’s swing. OSHA’s tag line regulations have not been updated since the 1970’s; in fact, the tag line concept dates back more than 4,000 years. This method is not only outdated, but also imprecise and frankly unsafe. With new load stabilizing technology innovation, we can eliminate human error and environmental factors, and reduce or eliminate workplace accident risk by establishing total load stabilization for crane hoist operations. In the last decade, there were more than 20 injuries and fatalities in Virginia associated with OSHA-reportable crane accidents. More than half of the Commonwealth’s crane-related accidents were due to workers being forced to operate too close to a crane’s load. Future fatalities and injuries could be prevented if the appropriate load stabilization technology is permitted for use on industrial and construction worksites throughout the Commonwealth. As an additional benefit of House Bill 1392, active load stabilizers further improve overall job efficiency by some 20 percent. Time delays are common in crane operations; high wind gust can result in a load being grounded, while long tag lines must be deployed and maneuvered to control lifts that are often several stories high. Load stabilizing technologies are designed to meet such challenges as heavy wind gusts and other environmental factors, allowing crane operations to continue without delays and more safely than traditional tag lines. Virginia’s Code must be modernized to meet the industrial and construction industries’ safety needs and keep pace with the demand for labor. Incorporating the use of safety-focused innovation in existing workplace safety laws and regulations is an important means of achieving this goal. We hope this committee and the Virginia Legislature will give bipartisan support for HB 1392. Sincerely, Caleb Carr Founder & CEO Vita Inclinata Technologies

Comments Document

On behalf of Roborigger international I would like to express full support for House Bill 1392. HB 1392 creates safer crane operations by allowing for autonomous load stability mechanisms to be used during hoisting operations. HB 1392 not only makes hoist operations safer but keeps policy up to date with proven emerging and innovative technology. Our staff is comprised of highly skilled individuals who use leading-edge construction technology to meet Virginia’s growing needs. We believe HB 1392 not only improves overall construction safety but also provides an inclusive environment for innovation to adapt to safety standards. Older laws and regulations have not been updated and restrict our ability to use new innovative technologies. One example of this is found in the Code of Virginia, 25-175-1926.1417, which mandates the use of tag lines or restraint lines on all loads that tend to swing or turn freely during hoisting. This regulation forces the use of an outdated and unsafe method to manually stabilize swinging crane loads. Manually stabilizing loads with tag lines also increases the risk of strains, dislocations, and amputations. With 225,000 cranes in operation across the U.S. doing 2.4 million lifts per day, there is a persistent risk of serious accidents or fatalities. In fact, Virginia has the nation’s 11th highest rate of crane-related accidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Virginia’s Code must be modernized to meet the construction industry’s safety needs and keep up with the demand for labor. Welcoming the use of safety-focused innovation in existing laws and regulations are merely one way of achieving this goal. We hope this committee and the Virginia Legislature will give bipartisan support for HB 1392. Sincerely, Derick Markwell

Comments Document

On behalf of Verton Australia Pty Ltd, I would like to express full support for House Bill 1392. HB 1392 creates safer crane operations by allowing for autonomous load stability mechanisms to be used during hoisting operations. HB 1392 not only makes hoist operations safer but keeps policy up to date with proven emerging and innovative technology. Our staff is comprised of highly skilled individuals who use leading-edge construction technology to meet Virginia’s growing needs. We believe HB 1392 not only improves overall construction safety but also provides an inclusive environment for innovation to adapt to safety standards. Older laws and regulations have not been updated and restrict our ability to use new innovative technologies. One example of this is found in the Code of Virginia, 25-175-1926.1417, which mandates the use of tag lines or restraint lines on all loads that tend to swing or turn freely during hoisting. This regulation forces the use of an outdated and unsafe method to manually stabilize swinging crane loads. Manually stabilizing loads with tag lines also increases the risk of strains, dislocations, and amputations. With 225,000 cranes in operation across the U.S. doing 2.4 million lifts per day, there is a persistent risk of serious accidents or fatalities. In fact, Virginia has the nation’s 11th highest rate of crane-related accidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Virginia’s Code must be modernized to meet the construction industry’s safety needs and keep up with the demand for labor. Welcoming the use of safety-focused innovation in existing laws and regulations are merely one way of achieving this goal. We hope this committee and the Virginia Legislature will give bipartisan support for HB 1392. Sincerely, Stanley Thomson CEO Verton Australia Pty Ltd

Comments Document

Dear Chairman Leftwich, I am writing to you today in support of HB 1392, a bill that would require long-needed regulatory amendments to the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program (VOSH) regarding the use of cranes and derricks in construction, maritime, and industrial operations. In the past decade, OSHA-reportable crane accidents resulted in more than 20 serious worker injuries and/or fatalities in Virginia. More than half of the Commonwealth’s crane-related accidents are due to workers being forced to operate too close to the crane’s load. Future fatalities and injuries could be prevented if the appropriate load stabilization technology were permitted for use on industrial, ports, and construction work sites. Currently, cranes are required to use a tag line, which is a rope tended by a rigger and attached to a lifted load. The tag line, in theory, is used to control load spinning and/or pendular motions, or to stabilize a bucket or magnets during materials-handling operations. The fundamental concept of using tag lines to stabilize loads has not changed since the invention of cranes in Ancient Greece. As innovation advancements in industrial and construction technologies, training, and worker safety continue to emerge, current state and federal laws and regulations must keep up to reflect this progress. HB 1392 is a simple but much-needed change to the Commonwealth’s Administrative Code. It will allow proven active load stabilization mechanisms and technologies to be used to greatly reduce or eliminate incidents of hazardous or potentially lethal crane load rotations. More importantly, SB 1392 helps provide for a safer operating environment for myriad construction, maritime, and industrial worksites across the Commonwealth. I look forward to your support of HB 1392. Thank you, Henning Roedel, Ph.D. Robotics Lead DPR Construction, A General Partnership 1450 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, CA 94063

I hope that the committee moves to report to full committee HB1491 and HB2461.

HB1491 - Great definition and one that is workable in today's business world. HB1810 - All employees should have a right to speak what they want. HB2256 - Thank you for making sure they have funds.

Comments Document

Dear Chairman Fowler and Members of the House General Laws Committee: My name is Meagan Forbes, and I am an attorney at the Institute for Justice. The Institute for Justice is a national nonprofit public interest law firm that works to protect civil liberties, including economic liberty. For 30 years, we have helped reform beauty industry licensing laws in over 24 states through litigation and legislative efforts. The Institute for Justice supports HB 1498 for three reasons. First, threading is safe. Threading does not use any chemicals or dangerous mechanical devices. Threaders simply use a piece of cotton thread and their hands to form loops around hairs to remove them from the follicle. Nationwide, there have been very few complaints filed with state cosmetology boards about health and safety issues related to threading. Licensing threaders does not provide more protection for consumers. Second, esthetician program curricula rarely teach threading skills. Threading is a traditional grooming technique that comes from South Asia and the Middle East. It is a cultural practice that is passed down from generation to generation through family and friends. Threaders train and practice their skills outside of traditional classroom settings. Yet Virginia law requires threaders to attend esthetician school to become licensed. Threaders are required to spend thousands of dollars and complete at least 600 training hours in esthetician programs that do not relate to their services. This leaves threaders in Virginia with two options: to incur substantial debt for irrelevant training or to work in underground economies where they face exploitation and the threat of undue enforcement actions, including criminal prosecution. Third, HB 1498 is a jobs bill. It is an opportunity bill. Threading has become a popular hair removal technique across the country. In 2020, data from Yelp showed that threading was one of the most searched beauty trends. Today, 20 states completely exempt threaders from licensure. In these states, threaders freely and safely open and work in legitimate salons that are easily accessible to consumers. By removing the license requirement for threaders, HB 1498 will reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and help consumers find threaders to provide this in-demand service. Finally, HB 1498 would allow threaders to exercise their right to earn a living and grow their businesses. In conclusion, I encourage you to support HB 1498 to ensure that threaders have every opportunity to thrive in Virginia. Thank you for your time and the opportunity to submit testimony. Sincerely, Meagan Forbes Director of Legislation & Senior Legislative Counsel Institute for Justice 901 N. Glebe Road Suite 900 Arlington, VA 22203 Phone: 703-682-9320

As a PTA board member at my children's elementary school, I am inundated with fundraising offers. Our laws have not kept up with modern tactics for fundraising, which now frequently happen over the Internet and email. This bill would expand the definition of solicitation to meet modern standards. Additionally, this bill would require for-profit entities that work with charitable organizations and groups to disclose the percentage of a donation that will go to the organization. I support this bill and appreciate Delegate Willett for sponsoring it.

HB1491 - Great definition and one that is workable in today's business world. HB1810 - All employees should have a right to speak what they want. HB2256 - Thank you for making sure they have funds.

I will not be able to attend in person and its unlikely that I'll be able to provide comment via ZOOM. So this submission is to repeat comments I made before the committee on January 19th. I ask for a negative vote on HB1813. Beginning in 2008, there have been 11 attempts through the GA to dilute the COV and the SFPC to allow all manner of consumer fireworks in Virginia localities that have not adopted more restrictive provisions through the enforcement provisions of the SFPC. As you may recall, the SFPC may be enforced at the local level and based on the last survey I last did in November 2015, 83.1% of the state’s population, residing in 37.9% of the state’s land area have the services of a local fire official. Within those local enforcement areas, 55.8% of the population residing within 10% of the state’s land area have more restrictions on fireworks than the minimum set forth in the COV and SFPC. (This represents 18 cities, 8 counties and 14 towns.) This bill strips that local authority away. While some may claim these figures are out-of-date, I can assure you with a high level of certainty the margin of error is well within 3%. HB1813 seeks to establish a “Law Enforcement Fund” wherein monies obtained by imposing a 12% retail sale and use tax of fireworks, the proceeds of which would be “used solely for the purposes of providing compensation to law-enforcement officers in the Commonwealth.” Law enforcement, which I take to mean police and sheriffs, excludes the fire service and EMS providers which would be the most adversely affected segments of public safety under this bill. This is not right and is wholly unfair. While some law enforcement officers could be involved if there is a criminal act using fireworks, it is the state’s fire service and EMS providers that would have to deal with the negative effects of firework use by the public through its responses to fires and/or attending to injuries and it is they that deserve supplemental compensation. It would be the local fire inspectors and fire marshal’s, not police officers or sheriffs, that would have to deal with ensuring the proper retail storage and handling of these fireworks, and it they that would deserve the supplemental compensation. The proposed expansion to allow all manner of "consumer fireworks" in the Commonwealth will increase the exposure and risk of injuries, property damage, and maybe even death. (There are documented deaths, including in Virginia, related to the use of "consumer fireworks".) Thank you.

The Virginia Autism Project and the Virginia Autism Advocacy Alliance oppose the expansion of use of fireworks. These displays should be limited as under the current law to public displays for people to willingly attend. Autistics and other disabilities have sensitivities to loud explosions and should be protected from them in their private homes and dwellings. Please VOTE NO on HB1813.

As Chair of the Virginia Fire Services Board and Chief of Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, we actively opposesthis bill. HB1813, allows full range of “consumer fireworks” and provides for tax with collected proceeds generated given to “law-enforcement officers”. This bill would remove a local jurisdictions ability to regulate consumer fireworks with regards to sale, use and transportation of such. This bill would go against Loudoun County's Policy Statement regarding Consumer Fireworks: "Oppose any action that would expand the sale, possession and use of consumer fireworks, without the provisions to assure compliance with related National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards which contain minimal fire and life safety provisions for all consumer fireworks. Injuries and deaths from fireworks occur annually." In addition, I can provide a synopsis of firework bills introduced before the General Assembly for the past 15 years but suffice it to say that this is an overall attempt is to allow all manner of consumer fireworks in the Commonwealth at the behest of the consumer firework industry itself. None of the efforts in the past 15 years have passed.

I oppose House bill 1813 altogether. By deregulating consumer grade fireworks and the localities ability to regulate the fireworks through local ordinances, this will ultimately increase the call for services on all public safety agencies. By increasing fire incidents, injuries and possibly deaths not to mention noise complaints and neighbor disputes.

1. Fireworks can cause trigger sensory overresponsivity (SOR), an extreme negative reaction to sensory stimuli. Obvious risks become apparent, as an autistic child in a spell of panic produced by fireworks may leave his or her home, get lost, and even suffer a serious accident. https://www.embs.org/pulse/articles/fireworks-autism-and-animals/ 2. Auditory/sensory processing disorder also tends to be common in those with Autism who may "experience certain auditory stimuli as more intense subjectively." Anxiety disorders often come with the symptom of hypersensitivity to sound, and loud noises can cause a person's anxiety to spike, resulting in stress and manifesting in physical symptoms. https://stmlearning.com/news/all-blog-posts/fireworks-and-their-impact-on-health/ 3. Preparation is critical when you are expecting sensory stimulation such as fireworks at a planned event. However, if there fireworks go off unexpectedly through illegal use, then you cannot instantly prepare your loved one as suggested. Our sister affiliate, the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin, shared the following link with great tips to prepare for the 4th of July. https://www.autismgreaterwi.org/fun-for-all-autistic-friendly-considerations-for-celebrating-the-4th-of-july/ Our national organization, the Autism Society of America, shared the following statement below authored by Dr. Cathy Pratt, BCBA-D, who is the director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism and past chair of the Autism Society of America's Board of Directors and currently serves on its Panel of Professional Advisors. https://www.autism-society.org/news/ask-the-expert-how-to-have-a-sensory-friendly-fourth-of-july/ Words from Conner Cummings. I am Conner and proud to be autistic Most of us would like to enjoy fireworks but needs to know ahead of time to prepare. Planned events are safe, fun and with preparation can become sensory friendly.

Please Vote NO on HB1813. this bill removes the consumer from the controls of the law for a "device" as it pertains to criminal penalties for the possession, manufacture, transportation, distribution, or use of explosive devices. These explosive devices cause great harm and trauma to many autistics who have sensory sensitivities. Please do not loosen the penalties and restrictions on these explosive devices that would allow further expansion of their use in residential settings. Keep the limits in place under current law. Please Vote NO on HB1813

Dear Committee Members, I am submitting the following points in opposition of HB1813. 1. Fireworks can cause trigger sensory overresponsivity (SOR), an extreme negative reaction to sensory stimuli. Obvious risks become apparent, as an autistic child in a spell of panic produced by fireworks may leave his or her home, get lost, and even suffer a serious accident. https://www.embs.org/pulse/articles/fireworks-autism-and-animals/ 2. Auditory/sensory processing disorder also tends to be common in those with Autism who may "experience certain auditory stimuli as more intense subjectively." Anxiety disorders often come with the symptom of hypersensitivity to sound, and loud noises can cause a person's anxiety to spike, resulting in stress and manifesting in physical symptoms. https://stmlearning.com/news/all-blog-posts/fireworks-and-their-impact-on-health/ 3. Preparation is critical when you are expecting sensory stimulation such as fireworks at a planned event. However, if there fireworks go off unexpectedly through illegal use, then you cannot instantly prepare your loved one as suggested. Our sister affiliate, the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin, shared the following link with great tips to prepare for the 4th of July. https://www.autismgreaterwi.org/fun-for-all-autistic-friendly-considerations-for-celebrating-the-4th-of-july/ Our national organization, the Autism Society of America, shared the following statement below authored by Dr. Cathy Pratt, BCBA-D, who is the director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism and past chair of the Autism Society of America's Board of Directors and currently serves on its Panel of Professional Advisors. https://www.autism-society.org/news/ask-the-expert-how-to-have-a-sensory-friendly-fourth-of-july/ Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for reviewing our comments. -- Sincerely, Nicole Miller Chapter Operations Manager Autism Society, Tidewater Virginia

I oppose this bill. It removes the authority for the locality to regulate fireworks through ordinance and overall authority from enforcement under the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code. Allowing the de-regulation of fireworks will certainly result in more fire incidents and injuries.

HB1491 - Great definition and one that is workable in today's business world. HB1810 - All employees should have a right to speak what they want. HB2256 - Thank you for making sure they have funds.