To enact sections 4777.01, 4777.02, 4777.03, 4777.04, 4777.05, and 4777.99 of the Revised Code to prohibit persons from using certain titles relating to the practice of occupational safety or the practice of industrial hygiene unless they meet specified requirements, to establish those requirements, and to generally prohibit political subdivisions from restricting the practice of occupational safety or of industrial hygiene by those who meet specified requirements.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Sec. 4777.01. AS USED IN THIS CHAPTER:

(A) "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.

(B) "CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST" OR "CIH" MEANS A PERSON WHO MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF DIVISION (A) OF SECTION 4777.03 of the Revised Code.

(C) "INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST IN TRAINING" OR "IHIT" MEANS A PERSON WHO MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF DIVISION (B) OF SECTION 4777.03 of the Revised Code.

(D) "THE PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY" MEANS THE PRESERVATION OF HUMAN AND 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.

(E) "CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONAL" OR "CSP" MEANS A PERSON WHO MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF DIVISION (C) OF SECTION 4777.03 of the Revised Code.

(F) "ASSOCIATE SAFETY PROFESSIONAL" OR "ASP" MEANS A PERSON WHO MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF DIVISION (D) OF SECTION 4777.03 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4777.02. NO PERSON SHALL ASSUME OR USE THE TITLE OR DESIGNATION "CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST," "INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST IN TRAINING," "CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONAL," OR "ASSOCIATE SAFETY PROFESSIONAL," ANY OF THE ABBREVIATIONS "CIH," "IHIT," "CSP," OR "ASP," OR ANY OTHER TITLE, DESIGNATION, WORDS, LETTERS, ABBREVIATION, SIGN, CARD, OR DEVICE INDICATING THAT THE PERSON IS QUALIFIED TO HOLD HIMSELF OR HERSELF OUT AS ONE OF THOSE PERSONS UNLESS THE PERSON MEETS THE APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 4777.03 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4777.03. (A) TO ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AS A CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST, A PERSON SHALL POSSESS A VALID, UNEXPIRED CERTIFICATION FROM THE AMERICAN BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE.

(B) TO ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AS AN INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST IN TRAINING, A PERSON SHALL POSSESS A VALID, UNEXPIRED CERTIFICATION FROM THE AMERICAN BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE.

(C) TO ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AS A CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONAL, A PERSON SHALL POSSESS A VALID, UNEXPIRED CERTIFICATION FROM THE BOARD OF CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONALS.

(D) TO ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AS AN ASSOCIATE SAFETY PROFESSIONAL, A PERSON SHALL POSSESS A VALID, UNEXPIRED CERTIFICATION FROM THE BOARD OF CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONALS.

Sec. 4777.04. THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

(A) A PERSON WORKING AS AN APPRENTICE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST, CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONAL, OR ASSOCIATE SAFETY PROFESSIONAL;

(B) A PERSON ENGAGING IN THE SUPERVISED PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE OR THE PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY THROUGH A COURSE OF STUDY IN THAT PRACTICE;

(C) A PERSON WHO HOLDS A CERTIFICATION, REGISTRATION, OR LICENSE UNDER ANOTHER SECTION of the Revised Code IF THAT PERSON DOES NOT VIOLATE SECTION 4777.02 OF THE REVISED CODE.

(D) A PERSON ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE OR THE PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY WHO DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 4777.03 of the Revised Code IF THAT PERSON DOES NOT VIOLATE SECTION 4777.02 OF THE REVISED CODE.

Sec. 4777.05. NO POLITICAL SUBDIVISION SHALL PROHIBIT OR RESTRICT THE PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE OR THE PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY BY INDIVIDUALS WHO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 4777.03 of the Revised Code EXCEPT WHERE PERMITTED TO DO SO BY ANOTHER SECTION of the Revised Code TO REGULATE A SPECIFIC ACTIVITY THAT FALLS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE OR THE PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY.

Sec. 4777.99. WHOEVER VIOLATES SECTION 4777.02 of the Revised Code IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FOURTH DEGREE.