Header:
PENNSYLVANIA STATUTES
TITLE 3. AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 24. FARM SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ACT
Date:
08/31/2009
Document:
§ 1905. Duties of secretary
(a) REGULATIONS.-- The secretary shall administer the provisions of this act and shall adopt and promulgate any regulations which may be necessary to implement and administer this act.
(b) DUTIES.-- The secretary shall:
(1) Develop or implement or provide for the development and
implementation of educational programs which will enable farmers,
members of farm families, farm laborers and others involved in
agricultural production to acquire knowledge of, understand and comply
with farm safety and occupational health best management practices.
(2) Collaborate with the College of Agricultural Sciences of The
Pennsylvania State University and other departments or agencies
concerned with health and safety to identify farm safety and
occupational health best management practices for the protection of
persons engaged in agricultural production.
(3) Collaborate with other departments, agencies, colleges and
universities and other organizations or institutions concerned with
farm safety and rural health in providing farm safety and occupational
health education to persons involved in agricultural production; in
studying the safety and health problems involved in agricultural
production; and in establishing, developing and providing such
programs, facilities and services as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this act.
(4) Work with local governments, county cooperative extension services,
emergency service providers, community service agencies, agribusinesses
and other business enterprises, farm organizations, electric utilities
and cooperatives and other organizations or groups serving farm
communities to promote acceptance of farm safety and occupational
health programs.
(5) Work with manufacturers and dealers of agricultural equipment and
machinery, manufacturers and dealers of agricultural chemical agents
and insurers to gain technical and financial support for programs
designed to analyze the need for and subsequently provide for the
installation of safety devices on agricultural equipment, machinery,
structures or facilities.
(6) Collaborate with PEMA to develop and implement a farm emergency
response training program.
(7) Collaborate with the Insurance Commissioner to develop guidelines
for program certification and for insurance rate reductions for
eligible participants who successfully complete farm safety and
occupational health programs.
(8) Provide for voluntary safety audits of individual farms.
(9) Provide for a rating system to link voluntary farm safety audits
with an appropriate recognition or reward, including reduced insurance
rate premiums or reduced workers' compensation premiums, for individual
farms which achieve a designated safety rating as established by the
secretary.
(10) Enter into partnerships with the Federal Government, State
agencies, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to
provide vocational and rehabilitative outreach services to farmers with
disabilities who wish to continue to farm.
(11) Provide for the periodic assessment on a comprehensive Statewide
basis of the number, location, condition and rehabilitative needs of
farmers with disabilities.
(12) Promote or assist with the promotion of farm safety demonstrations
and exhibitions at agricultural fairs.
(13) Provide or cause to be provided comprehensive technical assistance
and grant assistance to facilitate the development, administration and
implementation of farm safety and occupational health programs.
(14) Provide for the voluntary certification of farm and rural youth in
the safe operation and maintenance of agricultural equipment and
machinery and in first aid.
(15) Administer the expenditure of funds which may be made available by
the Federal Government, by the General Assembly or by any other source
for farm safety and occupational health programs.
(16) Develop or cause to be developed public service farm safety
advertisement campaigns through the use of appropriate media outlets in
farm communities.
(c) ANNUAL REPORT.-- Beginning 12 months from the effective date of this act and every 12 months thereafter, the secretary shall submit to the chairman and minority chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the Senate and the chairman and minority chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives an annual report covering the administration and operation of this act. The report shall include a summary of program activities, statistics on farm accidents and occupational injuries and diseases, an assessment of the number of persons participating in the programs, recommendations to increase acceptance and utilization of the programs and any comments, recommendations or assessments which the advisory board submits for inclusion in the report.
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