§ 1417. Functions and duties of Division

The Division of Occupational Health shall:

(1) maintain necessary laboratory facilities and equipment required to effectively perform its functions;

(2) study occupational health hazards and occupational diseases and procedures necessary for their control or prevention, and recommend necessary rules for such control or prevention to the Commissioner of Health and the Secretary of Human Services;

(3) investigate places of employment to determine the presence of health hazards which may be the cause or which may be suspected of being the cause of illness or occupational disease;

(4) investigate health hazards in places of employment that cause ill health or occupational disease, or may be suspected of doing so, and recommend rules to the Commissioner of Health and the Secretary of Human Services for the control or elimination of the health hazards;

(5) advise employers of the existence of conditions at work places which cause ill health or occupational disease;

(6) make inspections and investigations to discover violation of health standards and rules promulgated by the Secretary of Human Services under the VOSHA Code, and report any violation other than de minimis violations to the Commissioner of Labor, and cooperate with that Commissioner in taking action against violators of the VOSHA Code;

(7) test the effectiveness of control appliances and equipment used by employers and report any deficiency in performance to the employer and the Commissioner of Labor;

(8) consult, advise, and assist employers in the development and maintenance of medical services and programs for employees. (Added 1971, No. 205 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2005, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 5, 2006; 2017, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 63; 2023, No. 53, § 63, eff. June 8, 2023.)