A. Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees, commensurate with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

B. No person shall discharge, discriminate or take adverse personnel action against any employee because such employee has filed any complaint, or instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding under or related to this act, or has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding, or because of the exercise by such employee on behalf of himself or herself or others of any right affected by this act.

C. Within forty-eight (48) hours after the occurrence of an employment accident which is fatal to one or more employees or which results in hospitalization of five or more employees, the employer of any employees so injured or killed shall report the accident in writing to the Oklahoma City office of the Oklahoma Department of Labor, in a manner prescribed by the Department. The Commissioner of Labor may require such additional reports as he deems necessary, including the official death certificate from the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

D. No rule or standard promulgated under this act shall, or shall be deemed to, establish legal standards of conduct or legal duties, the violation of which standards or duties would constitute negligence or gross negligence in any civil proceeding.

E. Every employer having twenty-five (25) or more full- or part-time employees shall:

1. Designate an employee who shall coordinate all safety programs of the employer;

2. Provide safety classes to each type or class of employee no less than quarterly, except that public schools shall only be required to provide safety classes or instruction to their employees during the school year. Provided further, public school employees who are certified personnel and are in compliance with federal OSHA occupational safety and health standards shall be exempt from such safety classes or instruction and shall not be included in the computation of the number of employees set forth in subsection E of this section for determining the requirement of such safety classes or instruction; and

3. Cooperate with the Department of Labor including allowing any announced inspection of the premises for the purpose of determining compliance with this subsection.

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any hospital which is subject to the rules of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), as set forth in 42 CFR Parts 405, 412, 416, 417, 440, 441, 456, 482 and 489; Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Conditions of Participation for Hospitals, Final Regulations.

Laws 1970, c. 287, § 3, operative July 1, 1970; Laws 1992, c. 305, § 3, emerg. eff. May 27, 1992; Laws 1993, c. 349, § 19, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Laws 1994, c. 163, § 1, emerg. eff. May 6, 1994.