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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>70108</law_id><section_number>32.1-244</section_number><catch_line>Duty of operators to report knowledge of toxicity; retention and return of certain information; diagnosis of employee injuries and illnesses</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="6">Environmental Health Services</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="9">Toxic Substances Information</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Each <span class="dictionary">person</span> who operates a <span class="dictionary">commercial establishment</span> that uses as a raw <span class="dictionary">material</span>, catalyst, final product or process solvent or manufactures any chemical or mixture in a manner that the <span class="dictionary">person</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">Board</span> within five days of receiving it.
		In discharging this duty to report, each <span class="dictionary">person</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">person</span>, or by the holder of any patent under which the <span class="dictionary">person</span> is licensed to produce such substance, shall be attributed to that <span class="dictionary">person</span> if the <span class="dictionary">person</span> actually received that knowledge or, in the exercise of due diligence of such <span class="dictionary">person</span>, should have received that knowledge. Any knowledge of toxicity that is possessed by any consultant or independent contractor, who has been retained by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> to perform any evaluation or other task which involves any such substance, shall be attributed to the <span class="dictionary">person</span> if such <span class="dictionary">person</span> actually received that knowledge or, in the exercise of due diligence by such <span class="dictionary">person</span>, should have received that knowledge.
		Except as provided in this section, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall not require any reports by operators of <span class="dictionary">commercial establishments</span> to be filed pursuant to this article unless the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> can demonstrate that the report is necessary to prevent or lessen an imminent risk of injury to public health or the environment.
		Each <span class="dictionary">person</span> who operates a <span class="dictionary">commercial establishment</span> in which any chemical is manufactured or is used as a raw <span class="dictionary">material</span>, 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 <span class="dictionary">person</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">person</span> who <span class="dictionary">objects</span> thereto on religious grounds.
		The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">Department</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, purge and destroy such information.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 32-435.1; 1977, c. 471; 1979, c. 711; 1982, c. 16; 1984, c. 433; 1992, c. 203.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
