Section 12-51-3 - Authority for inspection(a) Safety and health compliance officers are authorized to enter without delay and at reasonable times any factory, plant, establishment, construction site, or any other area, workplace, or environment where work is performed by an employee of an employer. Officers may inspect and investigate during regular working hours and at other reasonable times, and within reasonable limits, and in a reasonable manner, any place of employment, and all pertinent conditions, structures, machines, apparatus, devices, equipment, and materials. Officers may question privately any employer, owner, operator, agent, or employee and may review records required by the rules and standards, and other records that are directly related to the purpose of the inspection. Officers of the department are authorized to make inspections and to question employers and employees in order to carry out the functions of the director under the law. Inspections conducted by safety and health compliance officers and representatives of the director shall not affect the authority of any federal agency to conduct inspections in accordance with agreements under federal law.(b) Prior to inspecting areas containing information that is classified by an agency of the United States Government in the interest of national security, safety and health compliance officers shall obtain the appropriate security clearance.[Eff. 7/12/82] (Auth: HRS § 396-4) (Imp: HRS § 396-4 and § 396-6)