The Commissioner must adopt rules for employer safety and health programs and safety and health committees, including employee and committee-member training rules.
(a)Safety and health programs.—Not later than one year after July 15, 1992, the Commissioner shall adopt final rules concerning the establishment and implementation of employer safety and health programs under G.S. 95-251. Rules adopted shall include provisions for the training and education of employees and safety and health committee members. These rules shall include at least all of the following: (1)Provision for the training and education of employees, including safety and health committee members, in a manner that is readily understandable by the employees, concerning safety and health hazards, control measures, the employer’s safety and health program, employee rights, and applicable laws and regulations. (2)Provision for the training and education of the safety and health committee concerning methods and procedures for hazard recognition and control, the conduct of worksite safety and health inspections, the rights of the safety and health committee, and other information necessary to enable the members to carry out the activities of the committee under G.S. 95-252. (3)Requirement that training and education be provided to new employees at the time of employment and to safety and health committee members at the time of selection. (4)Requirement that refresher training be provided on at least an annual basis and that additional training be provided to employees and to safety and health committee members when there are changes in conditions or operations that may expose employees to new or different safety or health hazards or when there are changes in safety and health rules or standards under Article 16 of this Chapter that apply to the employer. (b)Safety and health committees.—Not later than one year after July 15, 1992, the Commissioner shall adopt final rules for the establishment and operation of safety and health committees under G.S. 95-252. The rules shall include provisions concerning at least the following: (1)The establishment of such committees by an employer whose employees do not primarily report to or work at a fixed location. (2)The establishment of committees at worksites where employees of more than one employer are employed. (3)The employer’s obligation to enable the committee to function properly and effectively, including the provision of facilities and materials necessary for the committee to conduct its activities, and the maintenance of records and minutes developed by the committee. (4)The provision for different methods of selection of employee safety and health representatives at worksites with no bargaining representative, worksites with one bargaining representative, and worksites with more than one bargaining representative. History: History.1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 962, s. 1.