Governor Kathy Hochul Signs New Worker Safety Laws.
Governor Kathy Hochul is putting the spotlight on workplace safety by declaring June Worker Safety Month, just as three important new laws take effect.
The Retail Worker Safety Act, the Fashion Workers Act, and the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program are now officially on the books, each designed to make thousands of jobs across New York safer and more respectful for the people doing them.
“Our workers are the lifeline of the state and deserve to have a safe and secure work environment no matter the job,” Governor Hochul said.
"With new safety enhancements and health programs in place, workers across the state will have the tools and resources necessary to ensure their safety while in the workplace.”
Three New Laws, One Clear Goal: Safer Jobs for New Yorkers
The new laws are aimed at three industries where workers have long faced unsafe or unfair conditions: retail, warehousing, and modeling.
Each law includes clear steps that employers must take to protect the people they hire, from proper training to physical safety tools to accountability policies.
🔹 What’s Changing for Retail Workers
Under the Retail Worker Safety Act, any retail business with 10 or more employees must now offer training to prevent violence, threats, harassment, or abuse in the workplace.
Companies with 500 or more employees have to go a step further, they’ll be required to provide silent alert buttons (either wearable or mobile-based) by early 2027. These tools will let workers quickly call for help in an emergency.
To help businesses meet these new requirements, the state’s Department of Labor has released step-by-step guides and bilingual training videos. There’s also a social media campaign launching soon to spread the word about the new rules.
“Retail workers and shoppers will both be safer thanks to this law,” said RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum. “Retail workers should not have to go to work every day in fear; and this law goes a long way towards ending that.”
🔹 Making Warehouses Less Dangerous
Warehouse jobs have been linked to high injury rates, especially where speed quotas are pushed hard. The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program will require some distribution centers to create safety plans, check for injury risks, train supervisors and staff, and make sure proper medical help is available on-site.
This effort is part of a larger law, the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, which also forces companies to disclose any productivity quotas and protects workers from being punished for taking legally allowed breaks.
“Behind every paycheck, there’s a life worth protecting. Our fight for the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program and the Retail Worker Safety Act reflects our commitment to ensuring that every New Yorker goes home safe, every shift, every day." said State Senator Jessica Ramos.
🔹 New Rights for Models
Starting June 19, agencies representing fashion models will have to follow a new set of guidelines. The Fashion Workers Act says these companies must:
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Put their clients’ best interests first
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Keep the workplace safe and free from abuse
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Offer written agreements with pay details before a job begins
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Be upfront about any financial ties with clients
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Set clear policies and systems for reporting misconduct
Assemblymember Harry Bronson, who helped lead the bill, said the law brings long-overdue structure to an industry where many workers operate without basic protections.
“As we recognize Worker Safety Month, it's important we make sure policies are in place so when a New York worker leaves for work, they will return home to their family safely."
"The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act, which I sponsored in the Assembly and will take effect during Worker Safety Month, ensures that warehouses enact safety measures that put the health of our workers above profits. As Assembly Labor Chair, I will always fight for the protections our workers deserve.”
Highway Worker Safety Also Gets a Boost
In addition to the three new workplace laws, the governor’s new budget includes stronger protections for highway and road workers. That update follows several tragic losses this year, including the death of a DOT supervisor in a work zone crash.
“We’ve lost 59 of our own since the department began,” said NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “Pay attention, put your phone down and please, slow down and move over in a work zone — lives are at risk.”
Unions, Advocates, and Officials Back the Changes
From labor leaders to lawmakers, there’s strong support for these new protections. Many pointed out that these victories didn’t come out of nowhere, they’re the result of years of organizing and persistence from workers and their allies.
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AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said the laws are a step toward safer conditions for all New Yorkers.
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Teamsters Joint Council 18 President Tom Quackenbush praised the warehouse law as a badly needed fix for an industry where injuries have soared.
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ALIGN’s Theodore A. Moore called the moment a huge win but stressed the need for follow-through: “Passing the law is step one, now we have to educate workers and enforce it.”
A Resource That’s Been Quietly Saving Businesses for Decades
The Department of Labor also reminded businesses about a little-known resource that’s been quietly making a difference for years.
It’s called the On-Site Consultation Program, and it offers small and mid-sized companies in high-risk fields a free, private way to improve safety without the fear of penalties. Over the last 50 years, this program has helped businesses avoid thousands of injuries and major costs.
To learn more or request a consultation, visit the NYSDOL website.
Here’s What the New Laws Mean for Workers and Employers:
| Law | Who It Affects | What’s New |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Worker Safety Act | Retail employees | Training, panic buttons, stronger anti-violence policies |
| Warehouse Injury Reduction | Distribution center workers | Injury prevention plans, staff training, medical access |
| Fashion Workers Act | Models, agencies | Contracts, safety policies, pay transparency |
What You Can Do
If you’re a worker: Ask your employer what safety programs are now in place. You have the right to know.
If you’re an employer: Use the Department of Labor’s guides and videos to stay on track with the new rules.
If you’re a driver: Be mindful in work zones. Put the phone down, slow down, and move over. It could save someone’s life.
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