By a 30-to-19 margin, the Washington Senate passed legislation (SB 5161) to turn the state Department of Labor & Industries’ burdensome ergonomics rule into voluntary guidelines.

Kitsap Peninsula Senators Bob Oke (R-26th District) and Tim Sheldon (D-35th District) both voted in favor of the bill while Betti Sheldon (D-23rd District) voted against it.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla), states the ergonomics rule “shall have no effect, but shall remain in place for use only as voluntary guidelines for employers.”

The Building Industry Association of Washington filed an ergonomics initiative to put pressure on the Senate and House to take action on ergonomics legislation.

SB 5161 now goes to the House Commerce and Labor Committee where it is likely to face an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled House.