(a) In the event of a seismic event, or other natural or manmade calamity that the office believes is of a magnitude so that it may have compromised the structural integrity of a hospital building, or any major system of a hospital building, the office shall send one or more authorized representatives to examine the structure or system. “System” for these purposes shall include, but not be limited to, the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fire and life safety system of the hospital building. If, in the opinion of the office, the structural integrity of the hospital building or any system has been compromised and damaged to a degree that the hospital building has been made unsafe to occupy, the office may cause to be placed on the hospital building either a red tag, a yellow tag, or a green tag.
(b) A “red” tag shall mean the hospital building is unsafe and shall be evacuated immediately. Access to red-tagged buildings shall be restricted to persons authorized by the office to enter.
(c) A “yellow” tag shall mean that the hospital building has been authorized for limited occupancy, and the authorized representative of the office shall write directly on the yellow tag that portion of the hospital building that may be entered with or without restriction and those portions that may not.
(d) A “green” tag shall mean the hospital building and all of its systems have been inspected by an authorized agent of the office, and have been found to be safe for use and occupancy.
(e) Any law enforcement or other public safety agency of this state shall grant access to hospital buildings by authorized representatives of the office upon the showing of appropriate credentials.
(f) For purposes of this section, “hospital building” includes the buildings referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725.
(Added by renumbering Section 15097.105 (as amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 543) by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 203. Effective September 29, 1996.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018