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6/18/2025
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Assembly approves Casey and Thompson bill that mandates safe entrance and exit points for construction workers at jobsites
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STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly today approved legislation sponsored by House Municipal Government and Housing Committee Chairman Stephen M. Casey and Sen. Brian J. Thompson that ensures that construction workers can safely exit and enter their jobsites by prohibiting the locking of exits and entrances while workers are present.
The legislation now heads to the governor for consideration.
“At any workplace, it is essential that workers have a safe point of egress in case of an emergency, such as a fire, structural collapse or sudden medical emergency. Construction sites are no different, yet too often their operators lock the gates while construction is ongoing, potentially trapping their workers in a dangerous situation when delay could be deadly. This bill addresses an important oversight in our workplace safety laws by making sure construction sites have safe exit and entrance points whenever workers are present, just like offices, schools and any other workplace,” said Chairman Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), who works as a firefighter in the city of Woonsocket.
“Construction is an inherently dangerous industry and it is vitally important that we ensure the safety and well-being of construction workers. This bill closes a loophole that allows entrance and exit points to be locked during work hours, which currently prevents the safe entrance or egress of workers in case of emergency. It’s the right thing to do to keep our construction workers safe from harm,” said Senator Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland).
The bill (2025-H 5946A, 2025-S 0722A) would prohibit anyone from blocking the entrance and exit points of construction sites with locked gates, chains, fences or other barriers while construction is taking place, and mandate that all jobsites have an open access point for workers to freely enter and exit while construction is taking place.
Violators would receive a written warning and an order to open or unlock whatever barrier was in place. Subsequent violations would result in an immediate stoppage of work at the site and a hearing with the Department of Labor and Training, which would levy a fine of $1,000 for each day the construction site was in violation.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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