2025 -- H 5946

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LC001898

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Corvese, Casimiro, Finkelman, Read, Messier,
O'Brien, Solomon, Potter, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-27.3 of the General Laws entitled "State Building Code" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     23-27.3-703. Construction fencing safeguards.

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     (a) In addition to any standard, practice or procedure relating to safeguards to be used in

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and around construction sites promulgated by this code, it shall be a violation of this section for

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any owner, operator or manager of a construction project on a construction site whether on public

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or private property, to be secured by a locked chain, gate, fence or other barrier designed to obstruct

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access in or out of the construction site by vehicle or person on foot. At all times while construction

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is taking place on worksite, an access point shall remain open so that employees working on the

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site have the ability to freely enter and exit.

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     (b) Violations of this section shall, for a first offense, be punishable by a written warning

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to the operators of the construction site with an order to open or unlock whatever barrier is in place;

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subsequent violations of this section shall result in an immediate stoppage of work on the site until

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a hearing is scheduled with the director of the department of labor and training and a one thousand

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dollar ($1,000) fine for each day the construction site was found to have been locked without an

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open access point for workers to freely enter and exit.

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

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     This act would prohibit the restriction of access in and out of a construction site by using

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locked gates or fences while work is ongoing.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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