2012 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 31 - Labor
Chapter 557 - Employment Regulation
Section 31-53b - Worker training requirements for public works projects. Enforcement. Regulations. Exceptions.

(a) Each contract for a public works project entered into on or after July 1, 2009, by the state or any of its agents, or by any political subdivision of the state or any of its agents, described in subsection (h) of section 31-53, shall contain a provision requiring that each contractor furnish proof with the weekly certified payroll form for the first week each employee begins work on such project that any person performing the work of a mechanic, laborer or worker pursuant to the classifications of labor under section 31-53 on such public works project, pursuant to such contract, has completed a course of at least ten hours in duration in construction safety and health approved by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration or, has completed a new miner training program approved by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration in accordance with 30 CFR 46 or, in the case of telecommunications employees, has completed at least ten hours of training in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.268, and, on or after July 1, 2012, that any plumber or electrician subject to the continuing education requirements of section 20-334d, who has completed a course of at least ten hours in duration in construction safety and health approved by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration five or more years prior to the date such electrician or plumber begins work on such public works project, has completed a supplemental refresher training course of at least four hours in duration in construction safety and health taught by a federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration authorized trainer.

(b) Any person required to complete a course or program under subsection (a) of this section who has not completed the course or program shall be subject to removal from the worksite if the person does not provide documentation of having completed such course or program by the fifteenth day after the date the person is found to be in noncompliance. The Labor Commissioner or said commissioner’s designee shall enforce this section.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2012, the Labor Commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such regulations shall require that the ten-hour construction safety and health courses required under subsection (a) of this section be conducted in accordance with federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration Training Institute standards, or, in the case of a supplemental refresher training course, shall include, but not be limited to, an update of revised Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and a review of required construction hazards training, or in accordance with Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration Standards or in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.268, as appropriate. The Labor Commissioner shall accept as sufficient proof of compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section a student course completion card issued by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration Training Institute, or such other proof of compliance said commissioner deems appropriate, dated no earlier than five years before the commencement date of such public works project or, in the case of supplemental refresher training, a student course completion card issued by said Occupational Safety and Health Administration authorized trainer dated not earlier than five years prior to the date such electrician or plumber begins work on such public works project.

(d) This section shall not apply to employees of public service companies, as defined in section 16-1, or drivers of commercial motor vehicles driving the vehicle on the public works project and delivering or picking up cargo from public works projects provided they perform no labor relating to the project other than the loading and unloading of their cargo.

(P.A. 06-175, S. 1; P.A. 08-83, S. 1; P.A. 10-47, S. 2; P.A. 11-63, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 08-83 amended Subsec. (a) by making provisions applicable to public works project contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2009, replacing provision re total cost of work with reference to Sec. 31-53(g), requiring proof in certified payroll form that new mechanic, laborer or worker has completed a 10-hour or more construction safety course and adding provision re new miner training program, amended Subsec. (b) by substituting “person” for “employee” and adding “or program”, amended Subsec. (c) by adding “or in accordance with Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration Standards” and setting new deadline of January 1, 2009, deleted former Subsec. (d) re “public building”, added new Subsec. (d) re exemptions for public service company employees and delivery drivers who perform no labor other than delivery and made conforming and technical changes, effective January 1, 2009; P.A. 10-47 made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 11-63 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re supplemental refresher training course for plumbers and electricians subject to Sec. 20-334d, amended Subsec. (c) by adding provisions re regulations and subject matter of refresher training course and refresher training course student completion cards, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2011.