DeKalb Times

Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie has appointed State Representatives Jeff Keicher and Dan Ugaste to serve on the Warehouse Safety Standards Task Force. The task force was created in response to the collapse of an Amazon warehouse that was struck by a tornado in late 2021, with the aim of improving safety and access to emergency resources.

Representative Keicher, who has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, expressed gratitude for the appointment and emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of warehouse facilities. He stated, "I look forward to utilizing my experience in the insurance industry to help the task force offer proposals that will improve safety standards."

The collapse of the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, resulted in six fatalities and several injuries, despite the facility having 11-inch-thick concrete walls and being built within all applicable codes. This tragic incident highlighted the need to evaluate warehouse safety and construction standards, as well as improve emergency policies and access to resources during natural disasters.

Representative Ugaste, an attorney with expertise in workers' compensation and business insurance litigation, expressed his honor in being appointed to the task force. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety of warehouse workers and implementing necessary safeguards to prevent injuries and loss of life.

The Warehouse Safety Standards Task Force comprises sixteen members, half of whom are members of the General Assembly, while the other half represents workers and businesses. The task force is chaired by the Director of the Illinois Department of Labor. All members serve voluntarily and are tasked with delivering a report of policy recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2025.

For more information about the task force, please visit the provided link.