Harris County Approves First Comprehensive Worksite Safety Policy to Improve Worker Protections
In a landmark move for construction and labor safety, Harris County Commissioners Court has unanimously passed its first comprehensive Worksite Safety Policy, creating new standards for oversight, transparency, and worker protections on County-funded projects.
This policy—set to take effect January 1, 2026—will apply to construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance contracts valued at $1 million or more and subcontracts exceeding $100,000. With Texas leading the nation in workplace fatalities and Harris County topping the state in workplace injuries, the policy aims to address gaps in safety enforcement and raise the bar for contractor accountability.
Commissioners Lesley Briones and Rodney Ellis co-sponsored the initiative, citing the urgent need for stronger worker protections in a state where oversight is limited. According to federal data, Texas recorded 564 workplace fatalities in 2023, and Harris County alone ranks highest in the state for severe construction and heat-related injuries. The disparity is compounded by the fact that there is just one OSHA inspector for every 70,000 workers.
“I’m proud that Harris County took action to improve safety, protection, and opportunity for workers and their families,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones. “By strengthening and standardizing workplace safety practices, inspections, and documentation, we will hold contractors working on County projects—building roads, clinics, community centers, etc.—to a higher standard.”
Fellow sponsor Commissioner Rodney Ellis echoed the importance of the policy's focus, adding, “No project, dollar, or deadline is worth a human life. Harris County is not only enhancing safety for workers on county contracts but also setting a new standard for other jurisdictions in our region and across the United States.”
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Key Requirements for County Contractors
The newly adopted policy includes several mandates aimed at ensuring safer and more accountable worksites across Harris County:
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Mandatory safety planning: Contractors must submit site-specific safety plans and heat illness prevention and response plans.
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Rest and hydration: Workers must receive ten-minute paid rest breaks for every four hours worked.
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Independent safety inspections: Trained County Monitors will conduct both scheduled and unannounced inspections with authority to issue stop work orders for unsafe conditions.
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Free protective gear: Contractors are required to provide personal protective equipment at no cost to workers.
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Anonymous reporting: A worker safety hotline will allow employees to report unsafe conditions with protection from retaliation.
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Oversight committee: A new Worksite Safety Committee—including labor, contractors, and county officials—will monitor trends and suggest improvements.
Collaboration with Labor and Industry
The development of the Worksite Safety Policy reflects a collaboration between county leadership, labor groups, and contractors.
“Thank you to Commissioners Court for raising the bar for construction safety,” said Linda Morales of the Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. “This policy strengthens training, reporting, and accountability on every jobsite. It ensures workers can speak up and stop unsafe work, and it rewards contractors who put safety first.”
Local business owner and Regional Hispanic Contractors Association board member Vladimir Naranjo also voiced his support: “I encourage contractors to invest in worker safety because it protects people, improves productivity, and strengthens the bottom line.”
Juan Rubio of the Workers Defense Project emphasized the direct impact on laborers: “This safety policy is an important step forward because it ensures that every worker on a County project has water, rest, training, and a safe job site.”
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Expanded Transparency and Safety Record Reforms
The new policy builds upon and strengthens the 2023 Contractor Safety Record Policy. Updates include:
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Required disclosure of both closed and active OSHA cases.
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County Monitor access to OSHA 300 logs for injury review.
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Consistent enforcement timelines for safety violations.
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Creation of a centralized safety database to track inspections, violations, and corrective actions.
The Worksite Safety Committee will submit quarterly reports to Commissioners Court, helping to ensure transparency and promote ongoing improvements.
As Harris County continues to grow and invest in infrastructure, this policy signals a commitment to ensuring that progress doesn’t come at the cost of worker safety. While the policy will not go into effect until early 2026, County leaders, labor organizations, and contractors alike are already preparing to implement the new standards and foster a culture of safety that could serve as a model across Texas and beyond.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
