Virginia Administrative Code
Title 16 - LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
Agency 25 - SAFETY AND HEALTH CODES BOARD

AGENCY SUMMARY

The Safety and Health Codes Board, with the advice of the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, is authorized to adopt, alter, amend, or repeal rules and regulations to further protect and promote the safety and health of employees in places of employment over which it has jurisdiction and to effect compliance with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 ( P.L. 91-596). It may determine appeals from department orders granting or denying variances from standards. The board is mandated to adopt the standard that most adequately assures, to the extent feasible, on the basis of the best available evidence, that no employee will suffer material impairment of health or functional capacity. However, such standards shall be at least as stringent as the standards promulgated by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Such rules and regulations of the board are to be enforced by the commissioner and the department. Code of Virginia, Title 40.1, Chapters 1 and 3; see also Code of Virginia, Title 32.1, Chapter 6, Article 6.

The board is also authorized to adopt, alter, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and standards to ensure the proper demolition and renovation of asbestos facilities and effect compliance with the asbestos NESHAP requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Code of Virginia, Title 40.1, Chapter 3.3.

The board is authorized to adopt, alter, amend, or repeal definitions, rules, regulations, and standards that are designed for the protection of human life and property from the unsafe or dangerous construction, installation, inspection, operation, maintenance and repair of boilers and pressure vessels in the Commonwealth. Code of Virginia, Title 40.1, Chapter 3.1. The board is authorized to promulgate regulations requiring contract fee inspectors, as a condition of their doing business in the Commonwealth, to demonstrate financial responsibility. Code of Virginia, Title 40.1, Chapter 3.1. The board is also authorized to establish standards to be used in determining the ability, proficiency, and qualifications of a person applying for certification as a boiler and pressure vessel operator. Code of Virginia, Title 15.2, Chapter 9, Article 1.

Regulations of the board may be accessed on the Internet at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+reg+16; mail or email at Department of Labor and Industry, Main Street Centre, 600 East Main Street, Suite 207, Richmond, VA 23219 or http://www.doli.virginia.gov; or in person at Department of Labor and Industry, Main Street Centre, 600 East Main Street, 17th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219.

Rev. 11/2012