Title 18, Health, Safety, Housing, Human Rights, and Public Defender

(a) An association authorized by AS 18.55.996(a) to form a regional housing authority is given the authority to form a regional electrical authority. There is created with respect to each of the associations named in AS 18.55.996(a) a public body corporate and politic as a politi…

(a) A regional electrical authority is exempt from payment of taxes or assessments, other than assessments that may be levied under AS 29.46.010, on property owned by the authority that is used for generation and transportation of electricity. (b) All obligations issued under thi…

A regional electrical authority has the general power to (1) adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal; (2) prescribe, adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws; (3) sue and be sued in its own name; (4) appoint officers, agents, and employees and vest them with powers and duties and to fix, c…

(a) The authority, by board resolution, may issue bonds and bond anticipation notes in order to provide funds to carry out and effectuate its purposes. (b) The principal and interest on these bonds or notes is payable from authority funds. Bond anticipation notes may be payable f…

The pledge of assets or revenue of the authority to the payment of the principal or interest of obligations of the authority is valid and binding from the time the pledge is made and assets or revenue pledged are immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without physical deli…

A holder of obligations or coupons attached to them issued under the provisions of this chapter, and a trustee under a trust agreement or resolution authorizing the issuance of the obligations, if not restricted by the trust agreement or resolution, either at law or in equity, ma…

All obligations and interest coupons attached to the obligations are negotiable instruments under the laws of this state, subject only to applicable registration provisions.

Obligations issued under the provisions of this chapter are securities in which all public officers and public bodies of the state and its political subdivisions, all insurance companies, trust companies, banking associations, investment companies, executors, administrators, trus…

(a) The authority may provide for the issuance of refunding obligations for the purpose of refunding obligations then outstanding that have been issued under the provisions of this chapter, including the payment of redemption premium on them and interest accrued or to accrue to t…

Obligations issued under the provisions of this chapter do not constitute a debt, liability, or obligation of the state or of any other political subdivision of the state or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or a political subdivision of the state but are payable sole…

(a) The legislature finds that personal injuries and illnesses arising out of work situations impose a substantial burden upon, and are a hindrance to, the people of the state in terms of loss of production, wage loss, medical expenses, and disability compensation payments. (b) F…

(a) The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall issue the orders and adopt the regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105. (b) Upon adopting a regulation or standard, or granting any variance under this chapter, the commissioner shall …

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall (1) study ways and means for prevention of accidents to persons on the streets and highways, in and on the water, in aircraft usage, in homes, on the farms, at schools, in industrial and commercial plants, and in public plac…

Before the sixth day of each regular legislative session, the department shall prepare a report showing the accomplishments in this state toward reductions in accidents of all types, and recommendations for legislation, together with a plan for the proposed safety program for the…

As established by AS 23.10.075, there is in the department a division of labor standards and safety. Minimum qualifications shall be established for employees of the department acting as safety inspectors under AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105. These qualifications must include, as a min…

(a) There is created the Occupational Safety and Health Review Board within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, referred to in this chapter as the OSHA Review Board. The board shall consist of three members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature…

(a) In the event of an employment accident that is fatal to an employee or that results in an employee's in-patient hospitalization, an employee's loss of an eye, or an employee's amputation, the employer shall report the accident. The report must be made by telephone or in perso…

(a) The attorney general is legal counsel for the OSHA Review Board. The attorney general shall advise the board on legal matters arising in the discharge of its duties and represent the board in actions to which it is a party. If, in the opinion of the board, the public interest…

The agencies of the state shall cooperate with the department in its program of safety activities and shall make available information needed by the department relative to the accident problems and methods employed or recommended for accident prevention. The agencies may lend the…

Toxic and hazardous substances imported into the state shall be accompanied by a federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) form 20 or equivalent information. This requirement does not apply to a substance for which the in-state purchaser has already received th…

(a) An employer shall conduct a safety education program for an employee before the employee performs a new work assignment that may result in the employee being exposed to a toxic or hazardous substance or a physical agent for which the employee has not received safety instructi…

(a) An employer shall make available to an employee on request a copy of the most recent OSHA form 20 or equivalent written information for a toxic or hazardous substance or for a physical agent to which the employee may be exposed. If the employer does not have the copy or infor…

(a) The department shall print and make available to employers posters that contain notice of the provisions of this chapter relating to toxic and hazardous substances and physical agents. (b) An employer whose employees are or may be exposed in the workplace to a toxic or hazard…

Funds appropriated by the legislature for AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105 and contributions shall be spent only for the purposes of AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105.

(a) An employer shall do everything necessary to protect the life, health, and safety of employees, including (1) complying with all occupational safety and health standards and regulations adopted by the department; (2) furnishing and prescribing the use of suitable protective e…

(a) An employer who is affected by AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105 may apply to the commissioner for a variance from a provision of the safety and health standards adopted by the department. Employees who are affected by an application for variance shall be given notice of the applicati…

The department may accept contributions of funds, property, materials, supplies, and other forms of aid from business firms, organized groups, or individuals for furthering the safety program.

(a) An employer who is affected by AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105 may apply to the commissioner for a temporary variance from a provision of the safety and health standards adopted by the department. A temporary variance shall be issued only if the employer files an application fulfill…

(a) A representative of the department, upon presenting appropriate credentials to the owner, operator, or agent in charge, may (1) enter without delay and at reasonable times a factory, plant, establishment, construction site, or other area, work place, or environment where work…

A person may not give unauthorized notice of a department safety or health inspection. A person who gives unauthorized notice of a safety or health inspection, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not more than $7,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 180 days, or by b…

(a) A representative of the employer and a representative authorized by the employees shall be given an opportunity to accompany the representative of the department during the physical inspection of a work place for the purpose of aiding the inspection. If the authorized represe…

(a) An employee or a representative of employees who believes that a violation of a safety or health standard exists that threatens physical harm or that an imminent danger exists may request an inspection by giving notice of the violation or danger to the department. The notice …

(a) A person may not discharge or discriminate against an employee because the employee has filed a complaint or instituted or caused to be instituted a proceeding related to the enforcement of occupational safety and health standards, or has testified or is expected to testify i…

(a) If, upon inspection or investigation, the department believes that an employer has violated a provision of AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105 that is applicable to the employer, the department shall with reasonable promptness issue a citation to the employer. Each citation shall be in …

(a) If, after an inspection or investigation, or after an employer's failure to correct a violation for which the employer has been issued a notice, the department issues a citation, the commissioner shall, at a reasonable time after the termination of the inspection or investiga…

(a) An employer who wilfully or repeatedly violates a provision of AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105 that is applicable to the employer or a standard or regulation adopted under AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105 may be assessed by the commissioner a civil penalty of not more than the maximum amoun…

(a) The commissioner, or a designated agent as authorized by the commissioner, may issue orders restraining a particular condition or practice in any place of employment that constitutes a danger that could reasonably be expected to immediately cause death or serious physical har…

(a) A person affected by an order of the OSHA Review Board under AS 18.60.093(c) or (e) or of the commissioner under AS 18.60.096 may obtain a review of the order by filing a notice of appeal in the superior court as provided in the Alaska Rules of Appellate Procedure. (b) The de…

(a) The employer shall compensate any of the employer's employees who appear at a board hearing under AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105 for loss of wages if the employee appears at the hearing as the result of a request of the employer or as the result of a subpoena issued at the employer…

Information obtained by the department in connection with an inspection or proceeding related to enforcement of occupational safety and health standards that contains or that might reveal a trade secret referred to in 18 U.S.C. 1905 is confidential. However, the information may b…

AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105 are not intended to abrogate the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Department of Health in carrying out the provisions of this title and AS 17.

(a) Except as provided in (b) of this section, in AS 18.60.010 — 18.60.105, (1) “be exposed” means to ingest, inhale, or absorb through the skin or eyes a substance or physical agent, or fumes or other potentially harmful aspect of a substance or physical agent; (2) “commissioner…

The commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's designee may organize and conduct a search and rescue training exercise to prepare for a response to a search and rescue activity under AS 18.60.120. Only the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may authorize a perso…

Upon being notified that a person is lost, injured, killed, or is in need of immediate rescue, the commissioner of public safety or a designee may appoint a competent person to organize, direct, and guide a search and rescue party for the purpose of rescuing or retrieving the per…

A person may not bring a civil action for damages against the state, a political subdivision of the state, or the officers, agents, or employees of the state or a political subdivision of the state for a death, personal injury, or property damage that results from an act or omiss…

The expense of the search and rescue party shall be paid out of the state treasury upon vouchers properly made out, signed, and sworn to by the person appointed to direct the search and rescue party. The oath to the voucher shall be taken and made before the commissioner of publi…