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2003 Handbook of Employment Regulations Affecting Florida Farm Employers and Workers: Right-to-Know Law [State]1
Leo C. Polopolus, Michael T. Olexa, Fritz Roka, and Carol Fountain2Purpose
Establishes Florida standards of safety for certain employers who manufacture, produce, use, apply, or store toxic substances.Who Must Comply
In general, employers, of three or more workers, who manufacture, produce, use, apply, or store toxic substances must comply with the provisions of this Act.Employer Exemptions
The term employer does not include:
Additionally, most pesticides used by agricultural employers are excluded from the provisions of this law. Section 442.103(4)(e), Florida Statutes, reads as follows:
- Employers employing two or fewer employees.
- Employers of domestic workers in private houses.
- Bona fide farmers or an association of farmers employing workers in agricultural labor performed on a farm or in the onsite packing facilities for agricultural products from such farms who employ twelve or fewer regular employees and who employ twenty-four or fewer other employees at one time for seasonal or occasional agricultural labor that is completed in less than thirty continuous days provided that such seasonal or occasional employment does not exceed sixty days in the same calendar year. The term farm includes stock, dairy, poultry, fruit, fur-bearing animals, fish and truck farms, ranches, nurseries, and orchards. The term agricultural labor includes foremen, timekeepers, checkers, and other farm labor supervisory personnel.
"The provisions of this act shall not apply to: Substances or mixtures which may be toxic but which are labeled pursuant to the Federal Insecticides, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act ...."However, in Florida, these toxic substances or mixtures must be applied by applicators licensed under the provisions of Florida Statutes: Chapter 388, Mosquito Control Act; Chapter 482, Pest Control Act; and Chapter 487, Florida Pesticide Act.
While an agricultural employer may be exempt from certain provisions of the Act relative to chemicals labeled pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, most farms and farm shops utilize toxic substances that are not exempt from the Act. Hence, unless the farm employer is exempt because of twelve or fewer regular employees, he or she would be subject to the provisions of this law.
Covered Employers Must
- Post a prescribed notice informing workers of their rights under the law.
- Obtain and maintain for thirty years a Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each toxic substance present in the workplace and listed in the Florida Substance List.
- Make the MSDSs available to employees upon request within five of the requesting employee's working days.
- Provide instructions to employees, within their first thirty days of employment and at least annually thereafter, on the adverse health effects of each listed toxic substance with which they work in the workplace, how to use each substance safely, and what to do in case of emergency. (See Employers' Instructional Requirements.)
- Notify the local fire department of the location and characteristics of each listed toxic substance regularly present in the workplace.
Employee Rights
Employees are entitled to:
- Know of the listed toxic substances present in the workplace.
- Obtain a copy of the MSDS for each listed toxic substance present in the workplace.
- Instructions, within thirty days of employment and at least annually thereafter, on the adverse health effects of such listed toxic substances with which they work in the workplace, how to use each substance safely, and what to do in case of emergency.
- Refuse to work, under specified circumstances, with a listed toxic substance if not provided a copy of the MSDS for that substance within five working days after submitting a written request to his or her employer.
- Protection against discharge, discipline, or discrimination for having exercised any of the above rights.
Employers' Instructional Requirements
Employers are required to provide their employees with instructions, either written or in training sessions, which include the following:
- The chemical and common names of listed substances found in the workplace.
- The location of the substance in the workplace.
- Proper and safe handling practices.
- First aid treatment and antidotes in case of overexposure.
- The adverse health effects of the substance.
- Appropriate emergency procedures.
- Proper procedures for clean up of leaks and spills.
- The potential for flammability, explosion, and reactivity.
- The rights of employees under the Right-To-Know Law.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document containing standardized information about the properties and hazards of listed toxic substances. Manufacturers, importers, and distributors of listed toxic substances are required to prepare and furnish MSDSs to their direct purchasers. Employers are required to compile a file of MSDSs on listed toxic substances used in their workplace. In the event employers are, after diligent efforts, unable to obtain an MSDS from a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, they should notify the Toxic Substance Information Center, in writing, to request the Center's assistance in obtaining the MSDS.Florida Substance List
The Florida Substance List is a list of toxic substances that are covered by Florida's Right-To-Know Law. The list was compiled by the Toxic Substance Advisory Council and contains the scientific name and, where applicable, the common name of the substance. Copies can be obtained from the Toxic Substance Information Center.Responsible Agency
USF Safety Florida Consultation Program
4003 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33617
Dial toll-free 1(866) 273-1105
http://www.safetyflorida.usf.edu
http://www.safetyflorida.usf.edu/map_location.htmlFootnotes
1. This is EDIS document FE413, a publication of the Department of Food and Resource Economics, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Published July 2003. This information is included in Circular 1200, Handbook of Employment Regulations Affecting Florida Farm Employers and Workers. First published February 1992 as Circular 1043. Revised December 2002 as Circular 1200. Please visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Leo C. Polopolus, Professor Emeritus, Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Michael T. Olexa, Professor, Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Fritz Roka, Associate Professor, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Immokalee, FL; and Carol Fountain, Assistant Editor, Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
This document is designed to provide accurate, current, and authoritative information on the subject. However, since the laws, administrative rulings, and court decisions on which it is based are subject to constant revision, portions of this publication could become outdated at any time. This publication is distributed with the understanding that the authors are not engaged in rendering legal or other professional advice, and the information contained herein should not be regarded as a substitute for professional advice. For these reasons, the utilization of these materials by any person constitutes an agreement to hold harmless the authors, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and the University of Florida for any liability claims, damages, or expenses that may be incurred by any person as a result of reference to or reliance on the information contained in this publication.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.