reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
WV Code § 21-3-1 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-1. Employers to Safeguard Life, etc., of Employees; Reports and Investigations of Accidents; Orders of Commissioner

Every employer shall furnish employment which shall be reasonably safe for the employees therein engaged and shall furnish and use safety devices and safeguards, and shall adopt and use methods and processes reasonably adequate to render employment and the place of employment safe, and shall do every other thing reasonably necessary to protect the life, health, safety, and welfare of such employees: Provided, That as used in this section, the terms "safe" or "safety" as applied to any employment, place of employment, place of public assembly or public building, shall include, without being restricted hereby, conditions and methods of sanitation and hygiene reasonably necessary for the protection of the life, health, safety, or welfare of employees or the public.Every employer and every owner of a place of employment, place of public assembly, or a public building, now or hereafter constructed, shall so construct, repair and maintain the same as to render it reasonably safe.When an accident occurs in any place of employment or public institution which results in injury to any employee, the employer or owner of such place of employment or public institution, when the same shall come to his knowledge, shall provide the commissioner of labor the necessary information as to cause of the injury, on blanks furnished free of charge to the employer and prescribed by the commissioner of labor.To carry out the provisions of this chapter the commissioner of labor shall have the power to investigate and prescribe that reasonable safety devices, safeguards, or other means of protection be adopted for the prevention of accidents in every employment or place of employment, and to make, modify, repeal, and enforce reasonable general orders, applicable to either employers or employees, or both, for the prevention of accidents.All orders of the commissioner of labor shall be prima facie lawful and reasonable, and shall not be held invalid because of any technical omission, provided there is substantial compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
WV Code § 21-3-2 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-2. Guarding Machinery and Dangerous Places; Standards for Construction of Scaffolding, Hoists and Temporary Floors; First Aid Equipment

All power-driven machinery, including all saws, planers, wood shapers, jointers, sandpaper machines, iron mangles, emery wheels, ovens, furnaces, forges and rollers of metal; all projecting set screws or moving parts; all drums, cogs, gearing, belting, shafting, flywheels and flying shuttles; all laundry machinery, mill gearing and machinery of every description; all vats or pans and all receptacles containing molten metal or hot or corrosive fluids in any factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop, shall be so located, whenever possible, as not to be dangerous to employees, or, where possible shall be properly inclosed, fenced or otherwise protected. All dangerous places, in or about mercantile establishments, factories, mills or workshops, near to which any employee is obliged to pass or to be employed, shall, where practicable, be properly inclosed, fenced or otherwise guarded. No machine in any factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop, shall be used when the same is known to be dangerously defective, and no repairs shall be made to the active mechanism or operative part of any machine, when the machine is in motion. The state commissioner of labor is authorized to adopt the codes promulgated by the American standards association and approved by the United States department of labor, relating to the construction of scaffolding, hoists and temporary flooring of buildings two or more stories in height, in the course of erection. All factories, mills or workshops employing five or more people in the mechanical department shall keep on hand, easily accessible, necessary first aid equipment recommended by the bureau of labor and approved by the state health department.
WV Code § 21-3-3 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-3. Guarding Shafts, Hatchways, Wheel Holes, Elevators and Electrical Apparatus; Requiring Correction of Unsafe Conditions

All hoistways, hatchways, elevators, wells and wheel holes in factories, mercantile establishments, mills or workshops, shall be securely fenced, inclosed or otherwise safely protected, and due diligence shall be used to keep all such means of protection closed, except when it is necessary to have the same open in order that such hatchways, elevators or hoisting apparatus may be used. All elevator cabs or cars, whether used for freight or passengers, shall be provided with some device, whereby the car or cab may be held, in the event of accident, to the shipper rope or hoisting machinery or controlling apparatus. If any elevator, machine, electrical apparatus or system of wiring, or any part or parts thereof, in any factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop, are in an unsafe condition, or are not properly guarded, where reasonable to guard the same, the owner, or lessee, or his agent, superintendent or other person in charge thereof, shall, upon notice from the commissioner of labor or factory inspector, remedy such unsafe condition within a reasonable time after receiving such notice.
WV Code § 21-3-3a (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-3a. National Electrical Code Minimum Standards

In every factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop, the installation, alteration, repair, moving, removal, maintenance and conversion of all electrical wiring and apparatus and equipment shall be done in accordance with the minimum standards of safety and construction as set by the copyrighted National Electrical Code, as promulgated, from time to time, by the national fire protection association.
WV Code § 21-3-4 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-4. Removal of Safeguards

No person shall remove or make ineffective any safeguard required by this article, during the active use or operation of the guarded machine or device, except for the purpose of immediately making repairs thereto, and all such safeguards so removed shall be promptly replaced.
WV Code § 21-3-5 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-5. Control of Machinery

In every factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop, effective means shall be provided for immediately disconnecting the power, so that in case of need or accident any particular machine, group of machines, room or department, can be promptly and effectively shut down. Where machines are required to be started and stopped frequently, they shall, wherever practicable, be provided with tight and loose pulleys, clutch or other effective disengaging device. When provided with tight and loose pulleys, the shifting of the belt shall be accomplished by the use of a belt shifter, placed within easy reach of the operator. When a clutch or other disengaging device is used, an effective means for throwing such device into or out of engagement shall be provided, and shall be placed within easy reach of the operator. Where machines are directly connected with the prime mover (electric motor, steam, gas or gasoline engine, or other source of power), a switch, throttle, or other power controlling device shall be furnished and shall be placed within easy reach of the operator or his coworker. Where machines are arranged in groups, rooms or departments, and power is supplied by a prime mover, located within the confines of such group, rooms or department, a switch, throttle, or other controlling device shall be furnished, and shall be placed within easy reach of the operators affected, so that all shafting, transmitting machinery and machines of such group, room or department, can be simultaneously shut down. Where machines are arranged in groups, rooms or departments, and are supplied by power through the use of main or line shafts receiving power from some prime mover located without the group, room or department, the power receiving wheel or such main or line shaft shall, wherever possible, be provided with a friction clutch, or other effective power disengaging device, with suitable means for operating the clutch, or power disengaging device, and these means shall be placed within the confines of such group, room or department, and within easy reach of employees or operatives affected, so that all machines, shafting and other transmission machinery within such group, room or department, can be simultaneously shut down. In addition to such safeguard, communication, consisting of speaking tubes, electric bells, electric colored lights, or other approved and effective means, shall be provided in all cases covered by this section between each such group, room or department and the room in which the engineer or prime mover is located, so that in case of need or accident the motive power of such group, room or department can be promptly stopped or controlled.
WV Code § 21-3-6 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-6. Stairways, Passageways and Lights; Overloading Floors or Walls; Space Between Machines

In all factories, mercantile establishments, mills or workshops, proper and substantial handrails shall be provided on all stairways, and the treads thereon shall be so constructed as to furnish a firm and safe foothold. A proper light shall be kept burning by the owner or lessee in all main passageways, main hallways, at all main stairs, main stair landings and shafts, and in front of all passenger or freight elevators, upon the entrance floors, and upon other floors, on every workday of the year, from the time the building is open for use until it is closed, except at times when the influx of natural light shall make artificial light unnecessary. No floor space or any work room in any factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop, shall be so overloaded with machinery or other materials as thereby to cause serious risk to or endanger the life or limb of any employee, nor shall there be permitted in any such establishment a load in excess of the safe sustaining power of the floors and walls thereof. Machines shall not be placed so close together as to be a serious menace to those who have to pass between them. Passageways shall be of ample width, well lighted and free from obstruction.
WV Code § 21-3-8 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-8. Smoking Where Prohibited by Sign

Every person who shall light a pipe, cigar or cigarette in, or who shall enter with a lighted pipe, cigar or cigarette, any factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop in which is posted in a conspicuous place over and near each principal entrance a notice in plain English letters, stating that no smoking is allowed in such building, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $20 nor more than $100 for each separate offense.
WV Code § 21-3-9 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-9. Fire Escapes

In all factories, mercantile establishments, mills or workshops, sufficient and reasonable means of escape in case of fire shall be provided, and such means of escape shall at all times be kept free from any obstruction and shall be kept in good repair and ready for use, and shall be plainly marked as such. The commissioner of labor or factory inspector may order fire escapes erected on the outside of buildings used as factories, mercantile establishments, mills or workshops which are two or more stories in height, whenever deemed by the commissioner of labor or factory inspector to be necessary.
WV Code § 21-3-10 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-10. Food or Meals in Factories

No employee shall take or be allowed to take food into any room or apartment in any factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop, where white lead, arsenic, or other poisonous substances, or injurious or noxious fumes, dusts or gases under harmful conditions are present as the result of the business conducted by such factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop, and notice to this effect shall be posted in each room or apartment. Employees shall not remain in any such room or apartment during the time allowed for meals, and suitable provisions shall be made and maintained by the employer, when practicable, for enabling the employees to take their meals elsewhere in such establishment.
WV Code § 21-3-10a (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-10a. Meal Breaks

During the course of a workday of six or more hours, all employers shall make available for each of their employees, at least twenty minutes for meal breaks, at times reasonably designated by the employer. This provision shall be required in all situations where employees are not afforded necessary breaks and/or permitted to eat lunch while working
WV Code § 21-3-11 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-11. Seats for Female Employees

Every person, firm or corporation employing females in any factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop in this state shall provide a reasonable number of suitable seats for the use of such female employees, and shall permit the use of such seats by them when they are not necessarily engaged in active duties for which they are employed, and shall permit the use of such seats at all times when such use would not actually and necessarily interfere with the proper discharge of the duties of such employees, and, where practicable, such seats shall be made permanent fixtures and may be so constructed or adjusted that, when not in use, they will not obstruct such female employee when engaged in the performance of her duties.
WV Code § 21-3-12 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-12. Water Closets

Every factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop shall be provided with a sufficient number of water closets, and whenever both male and female persons are employed, separate water closets shall be provided for the use of each sex, and plainly marked by which sex they are to be used. No person or persons shall be allowed to use the closets assigned to the opposite sex. Such water closets shall be constructed in an approved manner and properly enclosed, and at all times kept in a clean and sanitary condition. The closets, where practicable, shall be located so that they shall have direct ventilation with the outside air. Where it is impracticable to locate the closets so as to have direct ventilation with the outside air, they shall be placed in an inclosure, and every such closet shall be properly and effectively disinfected and separately ventilated, and shall be properly lighted by artificial light, except when the influx of natural light makes artificial light unnecessary.
WV Code § 21-3-13 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-13. Washing Facilities and Dressing Rooms

In all factories, mercantile establishments, mills or workshops, adequate washing facilities shall be provided for the employees, where necessary. When the labor performed by the employees is of such a character as to make customary or necessary a change of clothing by the employees, there shall be provided a sanitary and suitable dressing room or rooms. Separate dressing rooms and washing facilities shall be maintained for each sex.
WV Code § 21-3-14 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-14. Power of Commissioner as to Witnesses; Prosecution of Offenses; Penalties; Jurisdiction; Exemption of Coal Mining Operations; Recovery of Civil Penalties

The commissioner of labor or any authorized representative of the department of labor in the performance of any duty or the execution of any power prescribed by law shall have the power to administer oaths, certify to official acts, take and cause to be taken depositions of witnesses.It shall be the duty of the Attorney General and the several prosecuting attorneys, upon request of the commissioner of labor or any of his authorized representatives, to prosecute any violation of the law which it is made the duty of the said commissioner of labor to enforce.If any employer, employee, owner or other person shall violate any provision of this chapter or shall fail or refuse to perform any duty lawfully required within the time prescribed by the commissioner of labor or his authorized representatives, for which no penalty has been specifically provided, or shall fail, neglect, or refuse to obey any lawful order given, made or promulgated by the commissioner of labor or his authorized representatives, or shall interfere with, impede, or obstruct in any manner the commissioner of labor or his authorized representatives in the performance of his or their official duties, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $50, or shall be imprisoned for not exceeding six months, or both so fined and imprisoned, for each such offense; and each day such violation, omission, failure, or refusal continues shall be deemed a separate offense.A justice of the peace shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court and other courts having criminal jurisdiction in his county for the trial of offenses under this article. Those portions of all coal mining properties and operations which are under the supervision of the department of mines are excepted from the operation of provisions of this article.In lieu of the penalties heretofore provided in this section, any such penalty may be recovered in a civil action in the name of the State of West Virginia.
WV Code § 21-3-15 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-15. Records and Reports of Commissioner, Inspectors and Chief Clerk

The commissioner of labor, inspectors and chief clerk shall make and keep full and proper record of all their expenses, and of inspections and statistics as to conditions, changes and improvements made for the safety and welfare of employees affected by this article; and the commissioner of labor shall submit a proper report thereof to the Governor, as provided in section four, article one of this chapter.
WV Code § 21-3-16 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-16. Inclosure of Streetcar Platforms

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation owning or operating a street railway in this state, or for any officer or agent thereof having charge or control of the management of such line or railway, or the cars thereof, operating electric, cable or other cars propelled either by steam, cable or electricity, which require the constant services, care or attention of any person or persons upon the platforms of any such car, to require or permit such services, attention or care by any of its employees, or any other person or persons, unless such person, firm or corporation, its officers or superintending or managing agents, have first provided the platforms of such car with a proper and sufficient inclosure constructed of wood, iron, glass or similar suitable material, sufficient to protect such employees from exposure to the winds and inclemencies of the weather.Any person, firm or corporation who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than twenty nor more than $100. Each day that such person, firm or corporation causes any of its employees to operate such car or cars in violation of the aforesaid provisions, or causes a car or cars to be used or operated in violation thereof, shall be deemed a separate offense: Provided, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to cars used and known as trailing cars.
WV Code § 21-3-17 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-17. Employers Not to Require Payment of Fees for Medical Examination as Condition of Employment; Enforcement

(a) The term "employer," as used in this section, shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, an association, a corporation, a legal representative, a trustee, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, and any common carrier by rail, motor, water, air or express company doing business in or operating within the state.(b) The term "employee" shall mean and include every person who may be permitted, required or directed by any employer, as defined in subsection (a), in consideration of direct or indirect gain or profit, to engage in any employment.(c) It shall be unlawful for any employer, as defined in subsection (a) to require any employee or applicant for employment to pay the cost of a medical examination as a condition of employment.(d) Any employer who violates the provisions of this section shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $100 for each and every violation. It shall be the duty of the commissioner of labor to enforce this section.
WV Code § 21-3-19 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 21. Labor|Article 3. Safety and Welfare of Employees|§21-3-19. Discrimination for Use of Tobacco Products Prohibited

(a) It shall be unlawful for any employer, whether public or private, or the agent of such employer to refuse to hire any individual or to discharge any employee or otherwise to disadvantage or penalize any employee with respect to compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment solely because such individual uses tobacco products off the premises of the employer during nonworking hours.(b) This section shall not apply with respect to an employer which is a nonprofit organization which, as one of its primary purposes or objectives, discourages the use of one or more tobacco products by the general public.(c) This section shall not prohibit an employer from offering, imposing or having in effect a health, disability or life insurance policy which makes distinctions between employees for type of coverage or price of coverage based upon the employee's use of tobacco products: Provided, That any differential premium rates charged to employees must reflect differential costs to the employer: Provided, however, That the employer must provide employees with a statement delineating the differential rates used by its insurance carriers.(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an employer from making available to smokers and other users of tobacco products, programs, free of charge or at reduced rates, which encourage the reduction or cessation of smoking or tobacco use.