Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Labor Standards and Safety Division

Joseph Knowles, Director

The mission of Labor Standards and Safety is to ensure safe and legal working conditions. This mission is accomplished through occupational safety and health law enforcement, training, and consultation; electrical and mechanical code compliance inspection and training certification; and wage and child labor law enforcement and training.

Programs

Alaska Occupational Safety and Health aims to protect Alaska workers from industrial accidents and job-related illness through the enforcement of state and federal standards, and by training employers and employees to follow safe and healthful work practices. The section also administers certification programs for asbestos abatement, hazardous painting, and explosives handlers to assure this work is done safely.

The Mechanical Inspection Section provides protection through inspection and certification of amusement rides, boiler and pressure vessels, and elevators. The section also inspects electrical and plumbing installations and issues certificates of fitness to persons performing electrical and plumbing work to ensure the competency of persons performing such work. The section is also the central DOL&WD agency responsible for contractor registration enforcement in Alaska.

The Wage and Hour Administration enforces and administers Alaska labor laws to ensure that workers are justly compensated for their labors and safeguarded from unfair or unscrupulous practices. This includes enforcement of minimum wages and overtime regulations, child labor laws, “right to return” transportation, public contract laws, and responsibility for the administration and licensing of private employment agencies.

The Alaska Safety Advisory Council promotes health and safety issues with a focus on workplaces in Alaska and organizes the annual Governor’s Safety and Health Conference.