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§ 1905. Duties of secretary

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 3 P.S. Agriculture

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 3 P.S. Agriculture (Refs & Annos)
Chapter 24. Farm Safety and Occupational Health Act (Refs & Annos)
3 P.S. § 1905
§ 1905. Duties of secretary
Currentness
(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.

Credits

1994, Dec. 12, P.L. 944, No. 134, § 5, effective in 60 days.
3 P.S. § 1905, PA ST 3 P.S. § 1905
Current through Act 10 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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