for employees required to stand in water; prohibits dry sweeping and compressed air cleaning in areas where hazardous dusty operations are carried on; and requires cleaning to be done at such time as minimum number of workers are involved, and minimum amount of dust is liberated into the air. Regulation No. 4. Atmospheric contaminants. Sets forth maximum allowable concentrations for atmospheric contaminants and authorizes both the State Board of Health and the Industrial Commission to stipulate others; specifies the methods of control to be used when excessive amounts of contaminants are liberated into the air, such as substitution, enclosure, wet methods, ventilation, and respirators; authorizes the Division of Industrial Hygiene of the State Board of Health to examine plans and specifications for ventilating systems, and to approve other methods of control of contaminants, when indicated. Regulation No. 5. Direct skin contact. Requires the use of personal protective measures for prevention of dermatitis, and of goggles for employees exposed to harmful rays of light radiation. Regulation No. 6. Illumination. Standards to be followed are those recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society and contained in American Standards Association Code A-11-1942. Regulation No. 7. Pressure. Regulates working conditions under abnormal atmospheric pressure; specifies limiting hours and pressures under which men may work and rate of decompression; requires gauges and that records be kept of all men under pressure when air pressure exceeds 17 pounds per square inch; outlines general requirements with respect to exhaust valves, communications and compression plant; requires the maintenance of a medical lock and the employment of at least one licensed physician to be in attendance while work under compressed air is in progress, and to examine workers for physical fitness at specified intervals and occasions; and requires identification badges for compressed air workers. Regulation No. 8. Radiant energy. Prohibits use of radiant energy in such quantities as may cause injury to health; authorizes the Division of Industrial Hygiene of the Florida State Board of Health to inspect industrial processes using radioactive compounds or emitting short wave radiant energy at intervals of not less than 6 months; and sets forth standards for maximum allowable concentrations. Regulations 9 and 10. Refer to sanitation in places of employment and in the preparation and serving of food and drink. Regulations to be followed are those set forth in the Florida State Sanitary Code, and/or of the local enforcement agency having jurisdiction. Recommendation No. 1. Noise. Recommends that "continuous noise levels be kept as low as possible in accordance with good engineering practices." Employment of Women and Minors Among pertinent provisions are the following: Florida Statutes Annotated, Section 450.03. Prohibits employment of minors under 16 years of age “in a factory, workshop, mill, mechanical establishment, laundry, or in any occupation for which a higher minimum age has been established." Section 450.05. Regulates hours of work of minors under 16 in certain occupations; requires lunch period after 5 hours of consecutive work for all minors under 18. Section 450.08. Prohibits employment of minors under 16 in certain specified occupations, and of minors under 18 years of age in any employment or occu pation determined and declared by the Florida Industrial Commission as "hazardous or injurious to the life, health, safety or welfare." Section 450.09. Requires employers to furnish proper safety appliances and guards in all manufacturing establishments where minors under 18 are employed. Section 450.10. Requires the provision of suitable washrooms and water closets in all establishments employing minors under 18, and dressing rooms for girls when change of clothing is required. Section 450.11. Requires provision of seats in all establishments employing girls under 18. Section 450.12. Authorizes the Industrial Commission to require manufacturing establishments employing minors under 18 to limewash or paint walls of each room. Section 450.13. Authorizes grand juries and county solicitors of criminal courts with "inquisitorial powers to investigate violations of this chapter." Section 450.18. Provides for penalty for employing minors in violation of law and for obstructing inspectors. Section 420.25. Permits children within protection of child labor statutes to be employed in production of motion pictures, if determined not to be "hazardous or detrimental to their health, morals, education or welfare" by the Florida Industrial Commission. Workmen's Compensation Workmen's Compensation Law is administered by the Workmen's Compensation Division. (Sections 440.02 to 440.57) Occupational Disease Compensation Section 440.151. Occupational disease is treated as the happening of an injury by accident. Full coverage. Reporting of Injuries Sections 440.35 and 440.36. Require employers to keep records of injuries. to employees and to send a report to the Commission within 10 days after the date of receipt of notice or of knowledge of injury or death. Reports made in accordance with this section are not to be used as evidence in any proceeding in respect of such injury or death on account of which a report is made. Penalty for violation. Vocational Rehabilitation Section 440.49 (as amended by 1953 New Laws, Senate Bill No. 344). Authorizes the Industrial Commission to assist in rehabilitating injured employees and to cooperate with federal and State agencies engaged in vocational rehabilitation. Persons refusing to accept appropriate training or education, deemed reasonable by the Commission, may be penalized by reduction or suspension of compensation benefits. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Vocational Rehabilitation Law Sections 229.25 to 229.39. Establishes a Division of Vocational Rehabilitation under the supervision of the State Board of Education to administer the vocational rehabilitation law; authorizes it to cooperate with other departments and agencies in providing vocational rehabilitation of disabled individuals, and to conduct related research and compile statistics; and authorizes it to cooperate with the federal government in carrying out purposes of the federal statutes. Criteria for eligibility for vocational rehabilitation are included. RAILROAD AND PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Chapter 350. The Commission has jurisdiction over railroads, common carriers and public utilities. Among its powers is authority to adopt rules and regulations to insure safety of roadbeds, tracks, stock, and other fixtures and equipment of railway lines." NUISANCE CONTROL Section 386.12. Certain acts declared to be nuisances; penalty. "The boiling of offal, swill, bones, fat, tallow or lard, the crushing, grinding or burning of bones or shells, cleaning guts, making glue from any dead animal or part thereof, making or boiling varnish or oil, making lamp black, turpentine or tar, distilling ardent, alcoholic or fermented spirits, storing or keeping fat scraps, grease or other offensive animal matter, rendering or drying out dead, undressed and unslaughtered animals, or any other business or trade whereby noisome stenches and odors and noxious gases arise or are generated, within any incorporated or unincorporated city or town of the State of Florida of over two hundred inhabitants, are declared nuisances injurious to health; and any person who shall cause, erect, create, maintain or continue any such nuisance, and who shall fail, after due notice from the State health officer, to abate the same, shall be fined one hundred dollars." GEORGIA SOURCES: Code of Georgia Annotated, as amended Rules and Regulations of State Agencies STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Authority and Functions Code of Georgia Annotated, Section 88-107. Rules and regulations of Board; powers, duties and rights. "The Board of Health shall establish such rules and regulations for its own direction as it may deem proper and may confer upon the Director of the Department of Public Health such duties and powers as it deems proper. Section 88-112. Powers and duties of Board. "The State Board of Health shall have supervision of all matters relating to the preservation of the life and health of the people. . . . It shall be the duty of all local boards of health and public and municipal officers of this State to enforce such quarantine and sanitary rules and regulations as may be adopted by the State Board. ... It shall respond promptly when called upon by the State or local governments . . . to investigate and report upon the water supply, sewage, disposal of excreta, or ventilation of any place or public buildings. Regulation Concerning the Reporting of Occupational Diseases and Investigations Covering Them. Adopted by State Board of Health, October 1941. "The State Department of Public Health is authorized to investigate and to make recommendations for the elimination or prevention of occupational diseases which have been reported to it or which shall be reported to it in accordance. . Said Department is also authorized to study and make recommendations in regard to conditions that may be suspected of causing occupational diseases. General Provisions Relating to Occupational Health Statutory Provisions None specifically. Rules and Regulations Adopted by State Board of Health. Regulation Governing the Use of Hatter's Mercurial Carroting Solutions. Adopted October 16, 1941. Prohibits the use of mercurial carrot in the preparation of hatters' fur or the use of mercurial carroted hatters' fur in the manufacture of hats. Reporting of Occupational Diseases Regulation Concerning the Reporting of Occupational Diseases and Investigations Covering Them. Adopted by State Board of Health, October 1941. Requires each physician having knowledge of any person whom he believes to be suffering from any occupational disease to report the same to the Board of Health in the same manner as other notifiable diseases. Reports thus made shall not be open to public inspection. Code of Georgia Annotated, Section 114-827. Reports to State Board of Health. "It shall be the duty of the State Board of Workmen's Compensation to report to the State Board of Health all occupations found to be hazardous and all cases of occupational disease which are filed in the office of the State Board of Workmen's Compensation. The forms for such reports shall be supplied to the State Board of Workmen's Compensation by the State Board of Health." DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Authority and Functions Section 54-102. Establishment; powers and duties. Establishes the Department of Labor and confers upon it all powers and duties heretofore vested by law in the Department of Industrial Relations, except as otherwise provided. Section 54-107. Same; duties. "The Commissioner shall have charge of the administration and enforcement of all laws, rules and regulations which it is the duty of the Department to administer and to enforce, except as provided in section 54-108 (Workmen's Compensation) and shall direct all inspections and investigations except as otherwise provided.' Section 54-122. Powers of Commissioner. "... the Commissioner of Labor shall have the power, jurisdiction, and authority: (a) To superintend the enforcement of all labor laws in the State of Georgia, the enforcement of which is not otherwise specifically provided for, and all rules and regulations made pursuant to sections 54-124 and 54-125.1 (b) To make or cause to be made all necessary inspections to see that all laws and rules made pursuant thereto which the Department has the duty, power and authority to enforce, are promptly and effectively carried out; (c) To make investigations, collect and compile statistical information and report upon the conditions of labor 1 Sections 54-124 and 54-125 prescribe procedure for adopting, amending and repealing rules. generally and upon all matters relating to the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this chapter and of the rules issued thereunder; (d) To make and promulgate such rules or changes in rules, as he may deem advisable for the prevention of accidents or the prevention of industrial or occupational diseases in every employment or place of employment, and such rule, or changes in rules, for the construction, repair and maintenance of places of employment... as he may deem advisable to render them safe. The Commissioner may appoint committees composed of employers, employes and experts to suggest rules or changes therein. . . . General Provisions Relating to Occupational Health and Safety Statutory Provisions Section 54-123. Employer's duty as to safety. "(a) Every employer shall furnish employment which shall be reasonably safe for the employees therein and shall furnish and use safety devices and safeguards, and shall adopt and use methods and processes reasonably adequate to render such an employment and place of employment safe, and shall do every other thing reasonably necessary to protect the life, health, safety, and welfare of such employees: Provided that, as used in this Chapter, the term 'safe' or 'safety' as applied to any employment or place of employment shall include conditions and methods of sanitation and hygiene reasonably necessary for the protection of the life, health, safety, and welfare of employees. "(b) Every employer and every owner of a place of employment, place of public assembly, or public building, now or hereafter constructed, shall so construct, repair, and maintain the same as to render it reasonably safe." Rules and Regulations Rules made Pursuant to Section 54–122 (d). Rules contain 60 brief statements covering prevention of accidents; good housekeeping practice; safeguarding machinery, equipment, workplaces, and installations; provision of sanitation, washing, drinking and eating facilities; use of goggles, protective clothing for persons exposed to hazards of welding, cutting or burning operations, handling hot or corrosive substances; eye and respiratory protection; and maintenance and inspections of workplaces. Operations and equipment not covered are governed by codes of the American Standard Association or the Underwriters. Employment of Women and Minors Among pertinent provisions are the following: Section 54-302. Prohibits employment of children under 16 in or about certain establishments or in any occupation designated as hazardous in accordance with section 54–304. Section 54-304. Prohibits employment of children under 16 in specified occupations or places of employment, or in any others designated by the Commissioner of Labor as hazardous, dangerous, or injurious to life, limb, or health. Children employed in summer months in peach packing houses are exempted. Section 54-401. Requires provision of seats for female employees in all manufacturing, mechanical and mercantile establishments and their use when not actively engaged in duties. |