Florida Agricultural Worker Safety Act Alert (4/21/03)

FLORIDA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
313 S. CALHOUN STREET * TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301-1807
850-222-2803 * FAX: 850-681-9548 * WEBSITE: www.flacathconf.org

ISSUE:	The bill seeks to reenact The Florida Agricultural Worker Safety Act, which first passed the Legislature in 1994 and sunsetted in 1998. The bill requires notification to farmworkers about pesticides used within 30 days of their application including safety precautions, health effects and emergency procedures. This information must be provided within two working days when requested by the worker. Present federal regulations only require that farmworkers and health care workers receive information after pesticide poisoning has occurred.
ACTION:	Please contact the Senate Agriculture Committee listed below and ask them to Vote YES on SB 2558. Please contact MARTY BOWEN (850-488-2721; bowen.marty@myfloridahouse.com), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, asking that HB 1253 be placed on the agenda or withdrawn and moved to the floor for consideration.
MESSAGE:	Thousands of farmworkers suffer pesticide poisoning each year. Behind California, Florida uses more pesticides than any other state. Farmworkers should know about precautions, health risks and emergency procedures for specific pesticides used by growers.
WHEN:	Call or email by 5 p.m., Monday, April 21^st. Senator Nancy Argenziano; 850-487-5017; argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov Senator JD Alexander; 850-487-5044; alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov Senator Michael Bennett; 850-487-5078; bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov Senator Victor Crist; 850-487-5068; crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov Senator Paula Dockery; 850-487-5040; dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov Senator Anthony Hill; 850-487-5024; hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov Senator Larcenia Bullard; 850-487-5127; bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov Senator Gary Siplin; 850-487-5190; siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov