Rhode Island § 28-21-9 - Hazardous Substances Right-To-Know Act

§ 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.