RCW 49.70.010 Legislative findings. 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 monitor adequately […]
RCW 49.70.020 Definitions. 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 and […]
RCW 49.70.100 Employee may request workplace survey or material safety data sheet. 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 […]
RCW 49.70.105 Foreign language translation of written materials. (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 […]
RCW 49.70.110 Discharge or discipline of employee prohibited—Application of discrimination statutes. 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. [ […]
RCW 49.70.115 Agricultural employees—Information and training on hazardous chemicals. (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 […]
RCW 49.70.119 Agricultural employees—Pesticides—Records. (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 or […]
RCW 49.70.140 Educational brochures and public service announcements. 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 materials. [ 1984 c 289 § […]
RCW 49.70.150 Civil action authorized. 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 […]
RCW 49.70.160 Request for additional information—Confidentiality. 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 the confidentiality […]
RCW 49.70.165 Trade secret exemptions. (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 secret […]
RCW 49.70.170 Worker and community right to know fund—Employer assessments—Audits—Appeal of assessment. (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 […]
RCW 49.70.175 Worker and community right to know fund—Expenditure—Disbursements. 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 […]
RCW 49.70.177 Penalties for late payment of fees—Collection of fees and penalties. 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 […]
RCW 49.70.180 Application of enforcement and administrative procedures of Washington industrial safety and health act. 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. [ 1984 c 289 § 25.]
RCW 49.70.190 Compliance with chapter—Notice—Fines—Injunctive relief. 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. If the manufacturer, […]
RCW 49.70.200 Adoption of rules. 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. [ 1984 c 289 § 27.]
RCW 49.70.210 Application of chapter to consumer products. (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 […]
RCW 49.70.900 Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “worker and community right to know act.” [ 1984 c 289 § 1.]
