AI-assisted research summary: This section defines key terms used in the chapter, including agricultural laborer, chemical name, common name, chemical manufacturer, designated representative, distributor, exposure, label, MSDS, work area, and workplace.
Sec. 125.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Agricultural laborer" means a person who plants, cultivates, harvests, or handles an agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state as determined by rule of the department, and includes an agricultural laborer who handles a chemical covered by this chapter. Office workers, cooks, maintenance workers, security personnel, and nonresident management are not agricultural laborers, except for purposes of a gross annual payroll determination, unless their job performance routinely involves potential exposure to chemicals covered under this chapter. Farm and ranch laborers working solely with livestock and persons working solely in the retail sales component of a business are not agricultural laborers for purposes of this chapter. (2) "Chemical name" means the scientific designation of a chemical in accordance with the nomenclature system developed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) or the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) rules of nomenclature, or a name that will clearly identify the chemical for the purpose of conducting a hazard evaluation. (3) "Common name" means any designation of identification such as code name, code number, trade name, brand name, or generic name used to identify a chemical other than by its chemical name. (4) "Chemical manufacturer" means an employer in Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes 20 through 39. (5) "Designated representative" means the individual or organization to whom an agricultural laborer gives written authorization to exercise the laborer's rights under this chapter. A designated representative is not required to reveal the name of the agricultural laborer he represents if the department has reviewed the laborer's written authorization, certifies that the representative has that authorization, and determines that the agricultural laborer would be entitled to the information the designated representative is seeking to obtain. A recognized or certified collective bargaining agent shall be treated automatically as a designated representative without regard to written authorization from a laborer. (6) "Distributor" means any business, other than a chemical manufacturer or importer, that supplies chemicals covered by this chapter to other distributors or to purchasers. (7) "Expose" or "exposure" means that an agricultural laborer is subjected to a chemical covered by this chapter in the course of employment through any route of entry, including inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, or absorption, and includes potential, possible, or accidental exposure. (8) "Fire chief" means the elected or paid administrative head of a fire department as defined in Chapter 125, Acts of the 45th Legislature, Regular Session, 1937 (Article 6243e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). (9) "Label" means any written, printed, or graphic material displayed on or affixed to containers of chemicals covered by this chapter. (10) "Material safety data sheet" ("MSDS") means a document containing chemical hazard and safe handling information that is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard for that document or, in the case of a chemical labeled under the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Section 136 et seq.) for which an MSDS is both unavailable and not required under the federal OSHA's hazard communication standard, a product label or other equivalent document with precautionary statements, such as hazards to humans and domestic animals, and environmental, physical, or chemical hazards, including warning statements. (11) "Work area" means a room, defined space, or field where chemicals covered by this chapter are stored or used and where agricultural laborers may be present. (12) "Workplace" means a geographical location containing one or more work areas. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 903, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988.