Rhode Island § 28-20-12 - Division of Occupational Safety

§ 28-20-12. Inspection powers.

(a) The director, upon presenting appropriate credentials to the owner, operator, representative, or agent in charge, is authorized:

(1) To enter without delay and at reasonable times any factory, plant, establishment, construction site or other area, workplace, or environment where work is performed by an employee of an employer; and

(2) To inspect and investigate during regular working hours and at other reasonable times, and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, any place of employment and all pertinent conditions, structures, machines, apparatus, devices, equipment, and materials in the place of employment, and to privately question any employer, owner, operator, agent, or employee.

(b) If the director is denied entry to any place that he or she has reason to believe has been, is being, or is about to be used as a place of employment, he or she shall make application under oath setting forth the reasons for his or her belief that the place has been, is being, or is about to be used as a place of employment, and the facts concerning his or her denial, to any justice of the superior court. That court shall issue an order ex parte, if it finds that the belief is reasonable, allowing the director to make any entry that is reasonably necessary to conduct the inspection.

(c) In making inspections and investigations under this chapter, the director may require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence under oath. Witnesses shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid to witnesses in the courts of the state. In case of contumacy, failure, or refusal of any person to obey an order, the superior court shall have the jurisdiction to issue to the person an order requiring the person to appear to produce evidence if, as, and when so ordered, and to give testimony relating to the matter under investigation or in question, and any failure to obey that order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.