(A) Any court of common pleas has jurisdiction, upon petition of the administrator of workers' compensation, to restrain any conditions or practices in any places of employment that present a danger that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious harm or contribute significantly to occupationally related illness immediately or before the imminence of the danger can be eliminated through the enforcement procedures provided in this chapter. Any order issued under this section may require that steps be taken as necessary to avoid, correct, or remove the imminent danger and prohibit the employment or presence of any individual in locations or under conditions where the imminent danger exists, except individuals whose presence is necessary to avoid, correct, or remove the imminent danger.

(B) Upon the filing of a petition under division (A) of this section, the court of common pleas may grant injunctive relief or a temporary restraining order pending the outcome of an enforcement proceeding pursuant to this chapter, except that no temporary restraining order issued without notice is effective for a period longer than five calendar days.

(C) If the administrator or the administrator's designee responsible for inspections determines that the imminent danger as described in division (A) of this section is such that immediate action is necessary, and further determines that there is not sufficient time in light of the nature, severity, and imminence of the danger to seek and obtain a temporary restraining order or injunction, the administrator or the administrator's designee immediately shall file a petition with the court under division (A) of this section and issue an order requiring action to be taken as is necessary to avoid, correct, or remove the imminent danger.

The administrator, with the advice and consent of the bureau of workers' compensation board of directors, shall adopt rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, to permit a public employer expeditious informal reconsideration of any order issued by the administrator under this division. Unless the administrator reverses an order pursuant to the informal reconsideration, the order remains in effect pending the court's determination under this section. If the administrator modifies an order pursuant to the informal reconsideration, the administrator shall provide the court with whom the administrator filed the petition under this section with a copy of the modified order. The modified order remains in effect pending the court's determination under this section.

Effective Date: 07-01-2000; 06-21-2005; 2007 HB100 09-10-2007 .