Employment of Women and Minors Among pertinent provisions are the following: Section 17.19. Regulates and/or restricts hours of labor and kinds of employments for children under 18. Section 17.20. Regulates employment of minors under 18. Prohibits their employment in specified occupations and industries, permitting employment of minors over 14 years during school vacation periods in occupations not prohibited by the Department as being injurious to health or morals or unduly hazardous. Section 17.34. Requires all employers of females to provide suitable seats and to permit their use when duties allow it. Hittle Juvenile Employment Act Section 17.702. "No minor under 18 years of age shall be employed, permitted or suffered to work in, about, or in connection with any gainful occupation, if such occupation is injurious to health or morals or is unduly hazardous, subject however to the provisions of this act as hereinafter set forth." Section 17.713. Empowers the Commissioner of Labor to issue occupational approval numbers to employers authorizing the employment of minors under 18 in gainful occupations not injurious to health or morals or unduly hazardous, subject to the provisions of this Act. Section 17.719. Requires an interval of at least 30 minutes for a meal and rest period after 5 hours' continuous duty. NOTE: The Act also specifies permissible employments, provides for issuance of work permits, and prescribes other conditions for permissible employments. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION COMMISSION The Workmen's Compensation Law is administered by the Workmen's Compensation Commission. (Sections 17.141 to 17.230) Occupational Disease Compensation Sections 17.220 to 17.230. Disablement from occupational disease or disability is deemed a personal injury. Full coverage. Reporting of Injuries Section 17.191. Requires employers subject to the Workmen's Compensation Law to keep record of all injuries causing death or disability of any employee arising out of and in the course of the employment. "Reports based on these records shall be furnished to such commission at such times and in such manner as it may reasonably require by general order upon forms to be procured from such commission." Ι Rule I of the Commission requires that employers report all injuries, including diseases causing 7 days or more disability, death or specific losses. Vocational Rehabilitation See under Department of Education for functions of Industrial Accident Board (Workmen's Compensation Commission). COPPER AND IRON MINE INSPECTORS Sections 17.311 to 17.323. Deal with election of mine inspectors and powers and duties with respect to making routine inspections of all working mines; condemning places where employees are in danger "from any cause, whether resulting from careless mining or defective machinery or appliances or improper or unsafe methods of any nature"; issuing certificates of safety before mines may be reopened or any employee may enter therein; ordering owners to provide safeguards for shafts and open pits; and procedure for issuing notices for corrections. INSPECTOR OF COAL MINES Sections 17.331 to 17.377. Laws apply specifically to coal mines and workings. Among subjects covered are: appointment of Inspector of Coal Mines by Commissioner of Labor; power of Inspector to close mines violating provisions of this Act until made safe; requirements for ventilation including minimum air supply per person and animal in regular mines and mines generating explosive gases; requirements for doors, breakthroughs and brattices; regulations for use and storage of oil, gasoline engines used in mines, storage of explosives; provision of washhouses at request of 20 or more employees; safety requirements for escape shafts, traveling ways, and hoisting; duties of mine engineers; provision of first-aid equipment; and duties of mine foremen or pit bosses, and miners. Penalties are prescribed for violations. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Vocational Rehabilitation Sections 15.841 to 15.855. The provisions and benefits of the Federal Act for the promotion of vocational rehabilitation of persons disabled in industry or otherwise are accepted. The State Board of Control for Vocational Education is designated as the agency to carry out the provisions of the Federal Act and is empowered to cooperate with the Federal Board; formulate necessary rules and regulations for the operation of schools providing vocational training; formulate a plan for the organization of such schools or courses of study and disburse funds for this purpose; and cooperate with the Industrial Accident Board in determining the persons entitled to the benefits and in carrying out the provisions of the Act. The Industrial Accident Board is required to report to the Board of Control names of disabled persons needing further vocational training and education, and to advise as to their proper vocation and placement in remunerative employment. STATE FIRE MARSHAL Sections 18.577 (31) to 18.577 (150). The State Fire Marshal enforces the Act regulating the installation and operation of dry cleaning and dry dyeing plants. Plants are divided into 4 classes, according to type of solvent used. Requirements are set forth as to location and construction of plants, installations and operations of machinery, mechanical and exhaust ventilation and other protective measures, fire-fighting apparatus, general safety precautions and solvents used. Requirements for Class IV establishments state that "In any case where such systems are used, ventilation shall be installed to meet the requirements of the department of health of the State of Michigan." Penalty for violation. PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION The Public Service Commission has jurisdiction over railroads and other common carriers, and all other public utilities, Chapter 218, Section 22.871. Requires street railway companies to enclose and heat platforms of cars so as to protect employees from exposure to the winds and inclemencies of weather. Penalty for violation. Sections 22.921 to 22.925. Require the keeping of first-aid kits, of which contents are enumerated, on all railroad and interurban trains including the caboose on freight trains. Penalty for violation. Section 22.968. Requires the installation of windshields, windshield wipers and tops on track motor cars operated by common carriers. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE The Department of Agriculture has regulatory supervision over foods and drugs, including the preparation of dairy products, the business of canning and preserving, and frozen food locker plants. Requirements cover provision of washrooms and toilet facilities for employees, adequate ventilation and lighting, cleanliness of premises and utensils. Persons affected with contagious diseases are forbidden to work in food establishments. Offensive Trades MISCELLANEOUS Sections 14.107 and 14.108. Empower county and village officers, when they shall judge it necessary, to assign certain places "for the exercising of any trade or employment, offensive to the inhabitants, or dangerous to the public health," and upon complaint and hearing to prohibit further use of such places when found to be nuisances. Corn Husking Machines Section 28.121. Requires automatic feeders or safety devices on corn husking machines. Penalty for violation. MINNESOTA SOURCES: Minnesota Statutes Annotated 1953 New Laws Rules and Regulations of State Agencies STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Authority and Functions 1 Minnesota Statutes Annotated, Section 144.03. General duties of officers. ... The secretary shall be the executive officer of the state board of health and ... shall see that all lawful rules and orders of the board and all duties laid upon it by law, are enforced and performed, and that every law enacted in the interests of human health is obeyed. Section 144.05. General duties of the board. "The state board of health shall exercise general supervision over all health officers and boards, take cognizance of the interests of health and life among the people, investigate sanitary conditions, learn the cause and source of diseases and epidemics, observe the effect upon human health of localities and employments. . .' 1 Additional references on pages 133 (Section 176.668), 137 (Industrial Environmental Sanitation), and 139 (Section 175.35). ... Section 144.12. Regulations of board. "The board may adopt, alter, and enforce reasonable regulations . . . for the preservation of the public health. Upon the approval of the attorney general... such regulations shall have the force of law . . . the board may control, by requiring the taking out of licenses or permits, or by other appropriate means, any of the following matters: (1) The manufacture into articles of commerce, other than food, of diseased, tainted, or decayed animal or vegetable matter. (10) The accumulation of filthy and unwholesome matter to the injury of the public health and the removal thereof.... (12) The construction, equipment, and maintenance in respect to sanitary conditions of lumber camps and other industrial camps.. 66 Section 144.34. Investigation and control of occupational disease. The department of health is authorized to investigate and make recommendations for the elimination or prevention of occupational diseases which have been reported to it or which shall be reported. . . . The department is also authorized to study and provide advice in regard to conditions that may be suspected of causing occupational diseases. Information obtained upon investigations made in accordance with the provisions of this section shall not be admissible as evidence in any action at law to recover damages for personal injury or in any action under the workmen's compensation act. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to interfere with or limit the powers of the department of labor and industry to make inspections of places of employment or issue orders for the protection of the health of the persons therein employed. When upon investigation the board reaches a conclusion that a condition exists which is dangerous to the life and health of the workers in any industry or factory or other industrial institutions, it shall file a report thereon with the department of labor and industry." Section 154.04. Entry for inspection. "For the purposes of performing their official duties all . . . employees of the state and local boards of health.. shall have right to enter any building where . or cause of preventable disease exists or is reasonably suspected." Section 176.666. Investigations. "When it appears to the state board of health that conditions exist which require investigation in order to determine the advisability of allowing or permitting an employee to continue in his hazardous employment, it shall file with the commission (Industrial) a petition demanding that the commission proceed to make such investigation and hold such hearings as may be necessary to such determination. Such investigation may be also initiated by the commission, or by petition of any employee or employer. The commission shall proceed promptly, after the filing of such petition or upon its own motion, with such investigation." NOTE: See also section 176.668 under authority and functions of Department of Labor and Industry concerning cooperation of the State Department of Health through its Division of Industrial Health with the Industrial Commission in preparing rules and regulations and in evaluating industrial health hazards, and under rules and regulations of the Industrial Commission. General Provisions Relating to Occupational Health Statutory Provisions None specifically. Rules and Regulations Adopted by State Board of Health. 1. Regulation 1800. Relating to the Use of Hatters' Mercurial Carroting Solutions. Adopted October 28, 1941. Prohibits use of mercurial carrot in the preparation of hatters' fur, or the use of mercurial carroted hatters' fur in the manufacture of hats. 2. Regulations 250 to 272. Industrial Camp Sanitation. Effective June 17, 1937. Deal with sanitation and cleanliness of camp sites, and sleeping quarters. Among the requirements are adequate heating and ventilation, sanitary water supply, toilet, washing and related facilities, and provision of first-aid supplies and emergency care. 3. Regulations 212 to 214. Slaughter Houses. Deal with sanitary conditions of slaughterhouses. Reporting of Occupational Diseases Minnesota Statutes Annotated, Section 144.34. Investigation and control of occupational diseases. "Any physician having under his professional care any person whom he believes to be suffering from poisoning from lead, phosphorus, arsenic, brass, silica dust, carbon monoxide gas, wood alcohol, or mercury, or their compounds, or from anthrax or from compressed-air illness, or any other disease contracted as a result of the nature of the employment of such person shall within five days mail to the department of health a report stating... No report made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be admissible as evidence of the facts therein stated in any action at law or in any action under the workmen's compensation act against any employer of such diseased person. . . .” ... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY Authority and Functions 1 Section 175.01. Department established. "The department of labor and industry is hereby continued . . . under the control and management of the industrial commission of Minnesota. Section 175.16. Divisions. "The department of labor and industry shall consist of the following divisions: division of workmen's compensation . . division of accident prevention . . . division of women and children . . . and such other divisions as the commission may deem necessary and establish. Section 175.17. Powers and duties. "The commission shall have the following powers and duties: "(1) To exercise such powers and perform such duties concerning the administration of the workmen's compensation laws of the state as may be conferred and imposed on it by such laws; "(2) To exercise all powers and perform all duties now conferred and imposed on the department of labor and industry as heretofore constituted, and the bureaus of such department, so far as consistent with the provisions of this chapter...." Section 175.20. Enforcement. "The department of labor and industry shall enforce all laws regulating the employment of minors and women, the protection of the health, lives, limbs and rights of the working classes. It shall be empowered to gather statistics relating to all branches of labor. . . . In discharge of its duties the members and employees of the department may enter any factory, mill, workshop . . . or other place where persons are employed . . . give such direction as may be necessary to enforce the laws. . 1 Additional references on page 131 (Sections 144.34 and 176.666). |