2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations
CHAPTER 28-20 - Division of Occupational Safety
§ 28-20-4 - Chief of division – Administrator of occupational safety and health – Compliance inspectors.

SECTION 28-20-4

   § 28-20-4  Chief of division – Administrator of occupational safety and health – Compliance inspectors. – (a) The director shall appoint the chief of the division of occupational safety. The appointee shall also serve for the purposes of coordinating and administering the provisions of this chapter and chapter 19 of this title and of chapter 1.1 of title 23 as the state occupational safety and health administrator. The appointee shall be in the classified service of the state and shall be responsible to and report to the director. Functioning as chief, the appointee shall serve as administrative head of all occupational safety programs in the state. Safety and health programs may include in-service training and other educational programs relating to occupational safety and health. Functioning as state occupational safety and health administrator, the appointee shall administer the code adoption process and perform other duties necessary to coordinate occupational safety and health activities in the state and the inspection provisions under chapter 19 of this title. He or she shall organize and present to the director by November 15 of each year a program of occupational safety and health inspections for the following fiscal year. The occupational safety and health administrator shall consult with the director of health on matters within his or her jurisdiction during the preparation of the program of inspections prior to submission to the director. The director of labor and training shall submit to the director of health by December 1 of each year the program of occupational safety and health inspections for the following year. The occupational safety and health administrator shall propose all penalties. The basis for each penalty determination shall be a report of noncompliance prepared by a safety or health compliance inspector. Each report of noncompliance shall be in writing and shall describe with particularity the nature of the violation including a reference to the provision of the code, rule, regulation, or order alleged to have been violated, and a copy shall be submitted to the occupational safety and health administrator.

   (b) The division may apply for and accept grants, or enter into contracts with any governmental agency, federal, state, or local or any agency branches, or with any foundation, corporation, association, or individual, and may comply with its terms, conditions, and limitations, for any of the purposes of this chapter. Any money so received may be expended by the division, subject to the limitations imposed in the grants or contracts, to effect any of the purposes of the division upon properly authenticated vouchers.

   (c) The director shall appoint safety compliance inspectors who shall be in the classified service of the state. Safety compliance inspectors shall perform all duties necessary to determine compliance with the safety provisions of this chapter and shall be referred to as compliance inspectors. The director shall appoint any other employees that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

   (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as terminating the services of any person now employed within the division of occupational safety who is presently qualified and within the classified service of the state. All such persons shall continue in the service of the division of occupational safety and their titles shall be changed to comply with the provisions of this chapter.