Sec. 31-40a. (Formerly Sec. 19-48). Reports of occupational diseases and investigations concerning them.
Sec. 31-40a. (Formerly Sec. 19-48). Reports of occupational diseases and investigations concerning them. Each physician having knowledge of any person whom
he believes to be suffering from poisoning from lead, phosphorus, arsenic, brass, wood
alcohol or mercury or their compounds, or from anthrax or from compressed-air illness
or any other disease, contracted as a result of the nature of the employment of such
person, shall, within forty-eight hours, mail to the Labor Department, Department of
Factory Inspection, as provided in section 31-9, a report stating the name, address and
occupation of such patient, the name, address and business of his employer, the nature
of the disease and such other information as may reasonably be required by said department. The department shall prepare and furnish to the physicians of this state suitable
blanks for the reports herein required. No report made pursuant to the provisions of this
section shall be admissible as evidence of the facts therein stated in any action at law
or in any action under the Workers' Compensation Act against any employer of such
diseased person. Any physician who fails to send any report herein required or who fails
to send the same within the time specified herein shall be liable to the state for a penalty
of not more than ten dollars, recoverable by civil action in the name of the state by said
department. The Labor Department, Department of Factory Inspection, as provided in
section 31-9, is authorized to investigate and make recommendations for the elimination
or prevention of occupational diseases reported to it in accordance with the provisions
of this section. Said department is also authorized to study and provide advice in regard
to conditions suspected of causing occupational diseases, provided information obtained
upon investigations made in accordance with the provisions of this section shall not be
admissible as evidence in any action at law to recover damages for personal injury or
in any action under the Workers' Compensation Act.
(1949 Rev., S. 3867; P.A. 73-449, S. 2; P.A. 78-349, S. 1, 3; P.A. 79-376, S. 28.)
History: P.A. 73-449 replaced department of health with labor department, department of factory inspection; Sec. 19-48 transferred to Sec. 31-40a in 1975; P.A. 78-349 deleted provision requiring labor department to pay physicians $0.50
for making report; P.A. 79-376 substituted "workers' compensation act" for "workmen's compensation act".