§ 28-21-9. Training and education program.
(a) Each employer shall provide an employee training and education program prior to an
employee's initial assignment designed to inform employee(s) about the designated
substances to which they are exposed. This training shall be repeated annually.
(b) The employer shall provide additional instruction whenever the employee may be routinely
exposed to additional designated substances or that require special precautions or
whenever the employee's potential for exposure is increased. Training shall include,
but not be limited to: the nature of the hazards, appropriate work practices, protective
measures, and emergency procedures. Training shall be based upon information contained
on the material safety data sheets, and any additional information that the employer
may have access to.
(c)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, an employer
shall not be required to provide training and education as provided in subsection
(a) of this section to the employees of any subcontractor of the employer. Before
any employees of any subcontractor commence work on the premises of, or at the direction
of, an employer, the employer shall provide to the subcontractor those chemical identification
lists and material safety data sheets to which the subcontractor's employees may be
exposed. In addition, the employer shall provide to the subcontractor the lists and
data sheets for any new designated substance that is introduced by the employer to
which employees of the subcontractor may be exposed prior to the exposure. It shall
be the responsibility of the subcontractor to train its employees with regard to these
substances, and otherwise comply with its obligations under this chapter, as with
any other designated substance to which its employees may be exposed.
(2) In addition, before any subcontractor commences work on the premises of, or in contact
with employees of, any other employer, the subcontractor shall supply to the employer
chemical information lists and material safety data sheets called for by this chapter
for any designated substances that the subcontractor uses on the employer's premises
or in contact with employees of the employer. The subcontractor shall subsequently
provide the lists and data sheets for any new designated substance that is introduced
by the subcontractor to which employees of the employer may be exposed prior to the
exposure. The employer shall then train its employees with regard to these substances,
and otherwise comply with its obligations under this chapter, as with any other designated
substance to which its employees may be exposed.
(d) Employers shall have, in writing, an outline of the Right-to-Know training program,
including how the employer will inform workers of chemical hazards, nature of protective
measures adopted for workers' protection, nature of the Rhode Island Right-to-Know
law, and how labeling, lists, and the MSDS material safety data sheet program works.
The employer, upon request, shall make copies of the Right-to-Know program available
to employees, employee representatives, treating physicians, the local fire department,
and the department of labor and training.