Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-17.28-3. Notification of incident

(a) Any hospital employee may notify their employer of any violation of law, regulation, or standard pertaining to safety and health in the place of employment, at any time an employee learns of a violation.

(b) Any employee or representative of the employee may complain to the director, or any authorized representative of the director, regarding any violation of law, regulation, or standard pertaining to safety and health in their place of employment, regardless of whether or not the employee has also notified or notifies their employer.

(c) Upon receipt of an employee complaint, the director shall notify the hospital, adhering to confidentiality requests pursuant to subsection (d), and make inquiries, inspections, and investigations that the director considers reasonable and appropriate.  When an employee or representative of the employee has complained in writing of an alleged violation and the director, after investigation, determines that no action will or should be taken against the employer, the director shall furnish to the employee or representative of the employee, upon written request, a statement of the reasons for the decision.

(d) The director shall establish procedures for keeping confidential the identity of any employee who requests protection of their identity in writing.  When a request for confidentiality has been made, neither a written complaint from an employee, or representative of the employee, nor any memorandum, report, or any other writing containing the identity of a complainant may be disclosed.