Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 49.70 · 19 active provisions
The legislature finds and declares that the proliferation of hazardous substances in the environment poses a growing threat to the public health, safety, and welfare; that the constantly increasing number and variety of hazardous substances, and the many routes of exposure to them make it difficult and expensive to mon…
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.(2) "Employee" means an employee of an employer who is employed in the business of his or her employer whether by way of manual labor or otherwise an…
An employee or employee representative may request, in writing, from the employer, a copy of a workplace survey or a material safety data sheet, filed pursuant to this chapter for the employee's work area. The employer shall supply this material within three working days of the request. This section shall not apply to…
(1) The department shall prepare and make available to employers or the public, upon request, a translation in any of the five most common foreign languages used in the workplace, of a written hazard communication program, a material safety data sheet, or written materials prepared by the department to inform employees…
No employer may discharge, cause to be discharged, or otherwise discipline, penalize, or discriminate against any employee because the employee or the employee's representative has exercised any right established in this chapter. The discrimination provisions of chapter 49.17 RCW apply to this chapter.
(1) An employer shall provide employees engaged in agricultural production of crops or livestock or agricultural services with information and training on hazardous chemicals in their workplace at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new hazard is introduced into their work area, such instruction shall…
(1) An employer who applies pesticides in connection with the production of an agricultural crop, or who causes pesticides to be applied in connection with such production, shall keep records for each application, which shall include the following information:(a) The location of the land where the pesticide was applied…
The department shall produce educational brochures and public service announcements detailing information available to citizens under this chapter. These educational materials shall be sent to each county health department. As necessary, the department shall provide information needed to update these educational materi…
A person may bring a civil action on his or her own behalf against a manufacturer, supplier, employer, or user to compel compliance with the provisions of this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter subject to the provisions of Title 51 RCW. The superior court shall have jurisdiction over these actions. The…
The department may request from an employer submitting surveys to it further information concerning the surveys, and the employer shall provide the additional information upon the request. The employer may require the department to provide reasons why further information is needed and to sign an agreement protecting th…
(1) The department shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW establishing criteria for evaluating the validity of trade secret claims and procedures for issuing a trade secret exemption. Manufacturers or importers that make a trade secret claim to the department must notify direct purchasers if a trade sec…
(1) The worker and community right to know fund is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The department shall deposit all moneys received under this chapter in the fund. Moneys in the fund may be spent only for the purposes of this chapter following legislative appropriation. Disbursements from the…
Funds in the worker and community right to know fund established under RCW 49.70.170 may be spent by the department of ecology to implement RCW 70A.415.020 (1) through (3) following legislative appropriation. Disbursements from the fund shall be on authorization of the director of the department of ecology.
If payment of any fee assessed under RCW 49.70.170 is not received by the department by the due date, there shall be assessed a penalty of five percent of the amount of the fee. If the fee is not received within thirty days after the due date, there shall be assessed a total penalty of ten percent of the amount of the…
Unless reference is specifically made to another chapter, this chapter shall be implemented and enforced including penalties, violations, citations, and other administrative procedures pursuant to chapter 49.17 RCW.
If a manufacturer, supplier, employer, or user refuses or fails to provide the department with any data sheets, workplace surveys, or other papers, documents, or information required by this chapter, the department may give written notice to the manufacturer, supplier, employer, or user demanding immediate compliance.…
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the department, after consultation with the department of agriculture, shall adopt any rules necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this chapter.
(1) It is the intent of the legislature that this chapter shall not apply to products that are generally made available to the noncommercial consumer: PROVIDED, That such "consumer" products used by employees in the workplace are used in substantially the same manner, form, and concentration as they are used by noncomm…
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "worker and community right to know act."