The Professional Regulation Unit at the RI Department of Labor and Training is holding free educational seminars for contractors in the construction industry in order to improve their knowledge of state bidding, permitting and installation procedures. The workshops will be held in Room 4080 of the CCRI Warwick Campus, 400 East Ave., on Monday, Aug. 20 at 9 a.m. and again on Thursday, Aug. 30 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Pre-registration is required at www.dlt.ri.gov.
RI Department of Labor and Training Director Charles J. Fogarty states, "This educational program is a direct result of Governor Chafee's desire to make government more business-friendly. By helping contractors understand prohibited practices and their corresponding penalties, the state hopes to make it easier and less costly for construction companies to conduct business."
During the seminars, department experts will review regulations associated with such licensed trades as hoisting, plumbing & irrigation, electrical installation, telecommunications, burglar & hold-up alarm systems, and mechanical work. Then, they will host question-and-answer sessions, where audience members can ask the experts' advice on specific job-related scenarios. Staff members will also review prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements for larger construction jobs.
The education series represents one of several steps the department has made this year to improve information-sharing and enforcement in the construction trades. This past spring, the department held a similar workshop for state and municipal administrators to review their legal obligations for bidding and permitting construction jobs. Also this year, in addition to its regular weekday visits to construction sites, the department began unannounced Saturday inspections of sites, to ensure that rules and regulations are followed by weekend work crews.
Part of the department Workforce Regulation and Safety Division, the Professional Regulation Unit oversees the licensure, testing, registration, and discipline of more than 30,000 individuals in 67 trade occupations. For more information on Workforce Regulation and Safety, visit the Department of Labor and Training web site at www.dlt.ri.gov/wrs.