BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the practice of industrial hygiene and occupational safety; adding a new chapter to Title 19 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The purpose of this chapter is to provide legal recognition to the professions of industrial hygiene and occupational safety.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "The practice of industrial hygiene" means the anticipation, prevention, recognition, evaluation, elimination, and control of environmental, biological, chemical, physical, and ergonomic factors and stresses arising in or from the workplace that may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or the general public.

(2) "American board of industrial hygiene" means a national nonprofit corporation established to improve the practice and educational standards of the profession of industrial hygiene and that certifies individuals who meet its education, experience, examination, and maintenance requirements for practicing industrial hygiene.

(3) "Industrial hygienist-in-training" or "IHIT" means a person who has received the designation of industrial hygienist-in-training and holds a valid, unexpired certificate from the American board of industrial hygiene.

(4) "Certified industrial hygienist" is a person who holds a valid, unexpired certificate from the American board of industrial hygiene.

(5) "The practice of occupational safety" means the preservation of human material resources through the systematic application of education, chemistry, physics, biological, ergonomic, psychological, physiological, and management principles for anticipating, identifying, and evaluating hazardous systems, conditions, and practices in the workplace and developing, implementing, and administering programs to alleviate those hazards.

(6) "Board of certified safety professionals" means a national nonprofit corporation established to improve the practice and educational standards of the profession of occupational safety and certify individuals who meet its education, experience, examination, and maintenance requirements for practicing occupational safety.

(7) "Certified safety professional" means a person who holds a valid, unexpired certificate as a certified safety professional from the board of certified safety professionals.

(8) "Associate safety professional" means a person who holds a valid, unexpired certificate as an associate safety professional from the board of certified safety professionals.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) No person may assume or use the following professional titles unless the person possesses the proper valid, unexpired certificate from the American board of industrial hygiene:

(a) Certified industrial hygienist or the abbreviation CIH; and

(b) Industrial hygienist-in-training or the abbreviation IHIT.

(2) No person may assume or use the following professional titles unless the person possesses a valid, unexpired certificate from the board of certified safety professionals:

(a) Certified safety professional or the abbreviation CSP; and

(b) Associate safety professional or the abbreviation ASP.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Nothing in this chapter prohibits or restricts:

(1) The practice of industrial hygiene by a person employed as an apprentice under the supervision of a certified industrial hygienist;

(2) The practice of occupational safety by a person employed as an apprentice under the supervision of a certified safety professional;

(3) A student studying industrial hygiene engaging in supervised activities related to the practice of industrial hygiene;

(4) A student studying occupational safety engaging in supervised activities related to the practice of occupational safety;

(5) Any person legally regulated in this state under any other licensing statute or rule from engaging in the activities permitted under his or her license, provided he or she does not represent himself or herself to the public as a certified industrial hygienist, industrial hygienist-in-training, certified safety professional, or associate safety professional; or

(6) Individuals practicing within the scope of practice of industrial hygiene or the scope of practice of occupational safety, so long as the individual does not use the title, initials, or represent himself or herself to the public as a certified industrial hygienist, industrial hygienist-in-training, certified safety professional, or associate safety professional.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A person who violates section 3 of this act is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable under RCW 9.92.030.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 19 RCW.