As Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf visited Erie on Thursday to talk about workforce development, State Rep. Pat Harkins (D - Erie) said workplace safety is a serious matter that must be addressed, and it's an issue that hits close to home in Erie.

"It was exactly seven years ago today that Jake Schwab was killed in an unfortunate, work-related accident right up the street at the EMTA bus facility," said Harkins.

Now, Gov. Wolf is calling for additional safety measures in both the private and public sectors.

"Safety is a fundamental right of workers," said Wolf. "We need to make sure that extends to public sector workers, as well as private sector workers, for the Pennsylvanians that choose to work."

"Currently, people aren't covered in public sector workers with OSHA protections that are given to people in the private sector," said Harkins.

Gov. Wolf said safer workplaces can also help the current labor shortage in the Commonwealth.

"Pennsylvanians can choose to work where they feel safe, where they're going to receive benefits then improve the quality of life and where they're going to receive the compensation they believe they deserve."

Harkins said the legislation has been stalled, but he remains optimistic it will pass with help from the governor.

"Its very frustrating that Republican leadership in the House has chosen to sit on this bill," said Harkins. "Today with the governor's help, we're going to try to get that fire lit again and get things moving."

Aside from the workplace safety legislation, Gov. Wolf is asking the General Assembly to pass additional legislation like House Bill 345 and Senate Bill 12. Both would raise the state's minimum wage to $12 per hour.