Each person who operates a commercial establishment that uses as a raw material, catalyst, final product or process solvent or manufactures any chemical or mixture in a manner that the person knows, or reasonably should know, is toxic and under the circumstances of its manufacture or use may pose a substantial threat to human health or to the environment shall have the affirmative duty to report that information to the Board within five days of receiving it.
In discharging this duty to report, each person shall have the further affirmative duty to make reasonable inquiry into the toxicity of any substance. Any knowledge of toxicity that is possessed by an employee or agent of the person, or by the holder of any patent under which the person is licensed to produce such substance, shall be attributed to that person if the person actually received that knowledge or, in the exercise of due diligence of such person, should have received that knowledge. Any knowledge of toxicity that is possessed by any consultant or independent contractor, who has been retained by the person to perform any evaluation or other task which involves any such substance, shall be attributed to the person if such person actually received that knowledge or, in the exercise of due diligence by such person, should have received that knowledge.
Except as provided in this section, the Board shall not require any reports by operators of commercial establishments to be filed pursuant to this article unless the Board can demonstrate that the report is necessary to prevent or lessen an imminent risk of injury to public health or the environment.
Each person who operates a commercial establishment in which any chemical is manufactured or is used as a raw material, catalyst, final product or process solvent shall direct each of his employees to a physician for diagnosis of any injury or illness of any kind whatever that the person knows, or reasonably should know, may be caused by such chemical. Nothing in this article shall be deemed, however, to authorize or require physical examination or medical treatment for any person who objects thereto on religious grounds.
The Department shall make reasonable efforts to return all confidential business information filed pursuant to this article to the owner or operator of the business that reported it; however, if the business no longer exists or the owner or operator cannot be located, the Department may retain the confidential information under the same terms and conditions of confidentiality existing prior to July 1, 1992, or, at the discretion of the Commissioner, purge and destroy such information.
Code 1950, § 32-435.1; 1977, c. 471; 1979, c. 711; 1982, c. 16; 1984, c. 433; 1992, c. 203.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 6 - Environmental Health Services
§ 32.1-163.1. Personal liability of sanitarians defined
§ 32.1-163.2. Long range plan for onsite sewage
§ 32.1-163.3. Identities of persons making certain reports to remain confidential
§ 32.1-163.5. Onsite sewage evaluations
§ 32.1-163.6. Professional engineering of onsite treatment works
§ 32.1-164.1. Appeals from denials of septic tank permits; inspections
§ 32.1-164.1:01. Onsite Sewage Indemnification Fund
§ 32.1-164.1:1. Validity of certain septic tank permits
§ 32.1-164.1:2. Eligibility for betterment loans to repair or replace failing onsite sewage systems
§ 32.1-164.1:3. Permits for voluntary system upgrades
§ 32.1-164.8. Onsite Operation and Maintenance Fund established
§ 32.1-166. Agreements with federal agencies
§ 32.1-166.1. Review Board; members
§ 32.1-166.2. Officers; secretary
§ 32.1-166.6. Review Board to hear appeals
§ 32.1-166.7. Subpoenas; witnesses; designation of subordinates
§ 32.1-166.8. Record of decisions
§ 32.1-166.9. Interpretation of application of regulations; recommendation of modifications
§ 32.1-169. Supervision by Board
§ 32.1-171. Technical assistance as to sources and purity
§ 32.1-171.2. Water Supply Assistance Grant Fund established
§ 32.1-173. Additional or amended permits
§ 32.1-173.1. Increase in charges to finance required changes
§ 32.1-174. Revocation of permits
§ 32.1-174.1. Bonds of permit holders
§ 32.1-174.2. Duties of electric utilities
§ 32.1-174.4. Identification and elimination of chronically noncompliant waterworks
§ 32.1-175. Emergency orders; appeal
§ 32.1-175.01. Issuance of special orders
§ 32.1-175.1. Notice to local government
§ 32.1-176.2. Findings and policy
§ 32.1-176.4. Powers and duties of Board and Department; regulations; fees
§ 32.1-176.5. Construction permit; local government authority to require analysis of water
§ 32.1-176.5:1. Department to test for oil contamination; maintain lists of private laboratories
§ 32.1-176.5:2. Prohibition on private well construction
§ 32.1-176.7. Other agencies to cooperate with Department
§ 32.1-176.8:1. Private well and public water supply well testing near coal ash ponds; monitoring
§ 32.1-187. Counties, cities and towns may create mosquito control districts
§ 32.1-188. Consolidation of districts
§ 32.1-189. Mosquito control commission; composition; appointment of members
§ 32.1-190. Powers of commission; oath and terms of members; vacancies
§ 32.1-191. Secretary of commission
§ 32.1-192. Further powers of commission
§ 32.1-194. Special tax authorized
§ 32.1-195. Contributions from Board
§ 32.1-196. Disposition of funds not needed for mosquito control
§ 32.1-197. Compensation and expenses of members of commission
§ 32.1-201. Free access to certain toilet facilities
§ 32.1-202. Power of counties, cities and towns not limited
§ 32.1-204. Notice of intention to construct, etc., camp
§ 32.1-206. Application for permit
§ 32.1-207. Inspection; issuance of permit; permits nontransferable
§ 32.1-208. Provisional permits
§ 32.1-209. Denial, revocation or suspension of permits
§ 32.1-210. Camp operator's responsibilities
§ 32.1-213. Shoddy, secondhand filling material, feathers, animal hair and down to be sanitized
§ 32.1-214. New animal hair, feathers and down to be sterilized
§ 32.1-215. Disposal restricted
§ 32.1-216. Permit for use of process to sanitize or sterilize
§ 32.1-220. Same; filling material
§ 32.1-221. Offenses as to tags
§ 32.1-222. Return of improperly tagged items; payment of costs of return; failure to pay costs
§ 32.1-223. New and sanitized items to be kept separate
§ 32.1-226. Violation a misdemeanor; application of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act
§ 32.1-228.1. Department designated state radiation control agency; powers and duties
§ 32.1-229. Powers and duties of the Board
§ 32.1-229.01:1. Action for damages
§ 32.1-229.2. Costs of inspection conducted by Health Department; fees to be used to support program
§ 32.1-229.3. Licensing of radioactive material
§ 32.1-230. Further powers of Board
§ 32.1-231. Bonds of licensees
§ 32.1-232. Radioactive Material Perpetual Care Trust Fund
§ 32.1-232.1. Special Trust Fund for Radioactive Materials Facility Licensure and Inspection created
§ 32.1-233. Radiation Advisory Board; composition; duties generally
§ 32.1-237. Effect upon local ordinances, etc.
§ 32.1-238. Impounding sources of ionizing radiation
§ 32.1-240. Department designated state toxic substance information agency
§ 32.1-241. Powers and duties of Board
§ 32.1-243. State agencies directed to cooperate with and furnish information to Board
§ 32.1-246.1. Signs or notices required on dump stations
§ 32.1-248. Closing of waters; modification or revocation of regulation or order
§ 32.1-248.01. Fish consumption advisories
§ 32.1-248.1. Posting of water quality test results by certain recreational facilities
§ 32.1-248.2. Use of rainwater and reuse of gray water; regulations
§ 32.1-248.3. Environmental Health Education and Training Fund