(a) The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction upon petition by the commissioner to restrain or enjoin any conditions or practices in any place of employment which are such that a danger exists which could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm immediately or before the imminence of such danger can be eliminated through the enforcement procedures otherwise provided by this chapter. Any order issued under this section may require such steps to be taken as may be necessary to avoid, correct or remove such imminent danger and prohibit the employment or presence of any individual in locations or under conditions where such imminent danger exists except individuals whose presence is necessary to avoid, correct or remove such imminent danger or to maintain the capacity of a continuous process operation, to resume normal operations without a complete cessation of operations or, where a cessation of operation is necessary, to permit such to be accomplished in a safe and orderly manner. No temporary restraining order issued without notice shall be effective more than five days.

(b) Whenever and as soon as an inspector concludes that conditions or practices described in subsection (a) of this section exist in any place of employment, he shall inform the affected employees and employer or owner of such danger and shall further inform such persons that he is recommending to the commissioner that relief be sought.

(c) If the commissioner arbitrarily or capriciously fails to seek relief under this section, any employee who may be injured by reason of such failure, or the representative of such failure, or the representative of such employee, may bring an action against the commissioner in the superior court for the judicial district in which the imminent danger is alleged to exist or where the employer or owner has its principal office, for a writ of mandamus to compel the commissioner to seek such an order and for such further relief as may be appropriate.

(P.A. 73-379, S. 14, 21; P.A. 74-137, S. 17, 18, 21; P.A. 76-436, S. 266, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127.)

History: P.A. 74-137 added reference to place where “owner” has principal office in Subsec. (c); P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties.