101.055(6)(a)4.
4. `Judicial review.' Orders and denials of requests for hearings under
subd. 3. are subject to judicial review under
ch. 227.
101.055(6)(b)
(b)
Injunction. Whenever a hazard exists in a public employer's place of employment which could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm before other procedures under this section can be carried out, the department may seek relief through an injunction or an action for mandamus as provided in
chs. 783 and
813.If the department seeks an injunction or an action for mandamus, it shall notify the affected public employer and public employees of the hazard for which relief is being sought.
101.055(7)
(7) Employer obligations for record keeping and notification. 101.055(7)(a)(a) A public employer shall maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses and shall make reports of these injuries and illnesses to the department at time intervals specified by rule of the department. These records shall be available to the department, the employer's employees and the employees' representatives. This paragraph does not authorize disclosure of patient health care records except as provided in
ss. 146.82 and
146.83.
101.055(7)(b)
(b) A public employer shall maintain records of employee exposures to toxic materials and harmful physical agents which are required by safety and health standards adopted under
sub. (3) to be monitored or measured. A representative of the department and any affected public employee and his or her public employee representative shall be permitted to observe the monitoring and measuring and shall have access to the employer's records of the monitoring and measuring. This paragraph does not authorize disclosure of patient health care records except as provided in
ss. 146.82 and
146.83.
101.055(7)(c)
(c) A public employer shall promptly notify a public employee who has been or is being exposed to any toxic material or harmful physical agent at a level which exceeds that prescribed by the safety and health standards of the department and shall inform that public employee of any corrective action being taken.
101.055(7)(d)
(d) A public employer shall notify its employees of their protections and rights under this section by posting a summary of these protections and rights in the place of employment where notices to employees are usually posted.
101.055(7)(e)
(e) When a representative of the department enters a public employer's place of employment to make an inspection, the employer shall notify an appropriate representative of any collective bargaining unit which represents the employer's employees. The employer shall give the name of the collective bargaining unit representatives notified of the inspection to the department representative making the inspection.
101.055(8)
(8) Protection of public employees exercising their rights. 101.055(8)(ag)(ag) In this subsection, "division of equal rights" means the division of equal rights in the department of workforce development acting under the authority provided in
s. 106.54 (4).
101.055(8)(ar)
(ar) No public employer may discharge or otherwise discriminate against any public employee it employs because the public employee filed a request with the department, instituted or caused to be instituted any action or proceeding relating to occupational safety and health matters under this section, testified or will testify in such a proceeding, reasonably refused to perform a task which represents a danger of serious injury or death or exercised any other right related to occupational safety and health which is afforded by this section.
101.055(8)(b)
(b) A public employee who believes that he or she has been discharged or otherwise discriminated against by a public employer in violation of
par. (ar) may file a complaint with the division of equal rights alleging discrimination or discharge, within 30 days after the employee received knowledge of the discrimination or discharge.
101.055(8)(c)
(c) Upon receipt of a complaint, the division of equal rights shall, except as provided in
s. 230.45 (1m), investigate the complaint and determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a violation of
par. (ar) has occurred. If the division of equal rights finds probable cause it shall attempt to resolve the complaint by conference, conciliation or persuasion. If the complaint is not resolved, the division of equal rights shall hold a hearing on the complaint within 60 days after receipt of the complaint unless both parties to the proceeding agree otherwise. Within 30 days after the close of the hearing, the division of equal rights shall issue its decision. If the division of equal rights determines that a violation of
par. (ar) has occurred, it shall order appropriate relief for the employee, including restoration of the employee to his or her former position with back pay, and shall order any action necessary to ensure that no further discrimination occurs. If the division of equal rights determines that there has been no violation of
par. (ar), it shall issue an order dismissing the complaint.
101.055(8)(d)
(d) Orders of the division of equal rights under this subsection are subject to judicial review under
ch. 227.
101.055(9)
(9) Coordination of state safety and health programs. The department shall coordinate state safety and health programs and shall plan and conduct comprehensive safety and health loss prevention programs for state employees and facilities.
101.055(10)
(10) Exception for certain political subdivisions. The department is not required to expend any resources to enforce this section in political subdivisions having 10 or less employees unless it has received a complaint.
101.055 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
Comm 3,
30, and
32, Wis. adm. code.
101.055 Annotation
This section extends the coverage of OSHA to government employees. OSHA was meant to address tangible, measurable workplace hazards. The threat of on-the-job violence to a campus police officer is too abstract to be within the coverage afforded. The denial of a request for a hearing on a complaint seeking to require the provision of firearms to officers was proper. West v. Department of Commerce,
230 Wis. 2d 71,
601 N.W.2d 307 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-1693.
101.07
101.07
Flushing devices for urinals. The department shall not promulgate any rules which either directly or indirectly prohibit the use of manual flushing devices for urinals. The department shall take steps to encourage the use of manual flushing devices for urinals.
101.07 History
History: 1977 c. 418.
101.09
101.09
Storage of flammable, combustible and hazardous liquids. 101.09(1)(a)
(a) "Combustible liquid" means a liquid having a flash point at or above 100 degrees fahrenheit and below 200 degrees fahrenheit.
101.09(1)(am)
(am) "Federally regulated hazardous substance" means a hazardous substance, as defined in
42 USC 9601 (14).
101.09(1)(b)
(b) "Flammable liquid" means a liquid having a flash point below 100 degrees fahrenheit.
101.09(1)(c)
(c) "Flash point" means the minimum temperature at which a flammable or combustible liquid will give off sufficient flammable vapors to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid or within the vessel which contains the liquid.
101.09(2)(a)(a) Except as provided under
pars. (b) to
(d), every person who constructs, owns or controls a tank for the storage, handling or use of liquid that is flammable or combustible or a federally regulated hazardous substance shall comply with the standards adopted under
sub. (3).
101.09(2)(b)
(b) This section does not apply to storage tanks which require a hazardous waste license under
s. 291.25.
101.09(2)(c)
(c) This section does not apply to storage tanks which are installed above ground level and which are less than 5,000 gallons in capacity.
101.09(2)(cm)
(cm) Any rules promulgated under
sub. (3) requiring an owner to test the ability of a storage tank, connected piping or ancillary equipment to prevent an inadvertent release of a stored substance do not apply to storage tanks that satisfy all of the following:
101.09(2)(cm)3.
3. Are used to store heating oil for residential, consumptive use on the premises where stored.
101.09(2)(d)
(d) This section does not apply to a pressurized natural gas pipeline system regulated under
49 CFR 192 and
193.
101.09(3)(a)(a) The department shall promulgate by rule construction, maintenance and abandonment standards applicable to tanks for the storage, handling or use of liquids that are flammable or combustible or are federally regulated hazardous substances, and to the property and facilities where the tanks are located, for the purpose of protecting the waters of the state from harm due to contamination by liquids that are flammable or combustible or are federally regulated hazardous substances. The rule shall comply with
ch. 160. The rule may include different standards for new and existing tanks, but all standards shall provide substantially similar protection for the waters of the state. The rule shall include maintenance requirements related to the detection and prevention of leaks. The rule may require any person supplying heating oil to any noncommercial storage tank for consumptive use on the premises to submit to the department, within 30 days after the department requests, the location, contents and size of any such tank.
101.09(3)(b)
(b) The department may transfer any information which the department receives under
par. (a) to any other agency or governmental unit. The department and any such agency shall treat the name of the owner and the location of any noncommercial storage tank which stores heating oil for consumptive use on the premises, required to be submitted to the department under
par. (a), as confidential and shall not permit inspection or copying under
s. 19.35 of any record containing the information.
101.09(3)(c)
(c) The rule promulgated under
par. (a) may require the certification or registration of persons who install, remove, clean, line, perform tightness testing on and inspect tanks and persons who perform site assessments. Any rule requiring certification or registration shall also authorize the revocation or suspension of the certification or registration.
101.09(3)(d)
(d) The department shall promulgate a rule specifying fees for plan review and inspection of tanks for the storage, handling, or use of flammable or combustible liquids and for any certification or registration required under
par. (c).
101.09(4)(b)
(b) The department shall issue orders directing and requiring compliance with the rules and standards of the department adopted under this section whenever, in the judgment of the department, the rules or standards are threatened with violation, are being violated or have been violated.
101.09(4)(c)
(c) The circuit court for any county where violation of such an order occurs has jurisdiction to enforce the order by injunctive and other appropriate relief.
101.09(5)
(5) Penalties. Any person who violates this section or any rule or order adopted under this section shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $1,000 for each violation. Each violation of this section or any rule or order under this section constitutes a separate offense and each day of continued violation is a separate offense.
101.09 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
Comm 10, Wis. adm. code.
101.10
101.10
Storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia; theft of anhydrous ammonia and anhydrous ammonia equipment. 101.10(1)(a)
(a) "Agricultural activity" means planting, cultivating, propagating, fertilizing, nurturing, producing, harvesting, or manufacturing agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, or dairy products; forest products; livestock; wildlife; poultry; bees; fish; shellfish; or any products of livestock, wildlife, poultry, bees, fish, or shellfish.
101.10(1)(b)
(b) "Anhydrous ammonia equipment" means any equipment that is used in the application of anhydrous ammonia for an agricultural purpose or that is used to store, hold, transport, or transfer anhydrous ammonia.
101.10(1)(c)
(c) "Transfer" means to remove from a container.
101.10(2)
(2) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules that prescribe reasonable standards relating to the safe storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia.
101.10(3)
(3) Prohibitions. No person may do any of the following:
101.10(3)(a)
(a) Store, hold, or transport anhydrous ammonia in a container that does not meet all applicable requirements established by rules of the department promulgated under
sub. (2).
101.10(3)(b)
(b) Transfer or attempt to transfer anhydrous ammonia into a container that does not meet all applicable requirements established by rules of the department promulgated under
sub. (2).
101.10(3)(c)
(c) Transfer or attempt to transfer anhydrous ammonia without the consent of the owner of the anhydrous ammonia.
101.10(3)(d)
(d) Intentionally cause damage to anhydrous ammonia equipment without the consent of the owner of the anhydrous ammonia equipment.
101.10(3)(e)
(e) Intentionally take, carry away, use, conceal, or retain possession of anhydrous ammonia belonging to another or anhydrous ammonia equipment belonging to another, without the other's consent and with intent to deprive the owner permanently of possession of the anhydrous ammonia or anhydrous ammonia equipment.
101.10(3)(f)
(f) Intentionally release or allow the escape of anhydrous ammonia belonging to another into the atmosphere. This paragraph does not apply if the owner has authorized the actor to exercise control over the anhydrous ammonia or has consented to its release.
101.10(4)(a)(a) Any person who violates a rule of the department promulgated under
sub. (2) may be required to forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $100 for each violation.
101.10(4)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
par. (c), any person who violates
sub. (3) is guilty of a Class I felony. Notwithstanding
s. 101.02 (12), each act in violation of
sub. (3) constitutes a separate offense.
101.10(4)(c)
(c) Any person who violates
sub. (3) (a) or
(b) while performing an agricultural activity or while performing an activity related to the construction, repair, alteration, location, installation, inspection, or operation of anhydrous ammonia equipment with the consent of the owner of the anhydrous ammonia equipment may be required to forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $100 for each violation.
101.10 History
History: 2001 a. 3,
16,
73,
109;
2005 a. 14.
101.10 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
Comm 43, Wis. adm. code.
101.11
101.11
Employer's duty to furnish safe employment and place. 101.11(1)(1) Every employer shall furnish employment which shall be safe for the employees therein and shall furnish a place of employment which shall be safe for employees therein and for frequenters thereof and shall furnish and use safety devices and safeguards, and shall adopt and use methods and processes reasonably adequate to render such employment and places of employment safe, and shall do every other thing reasonably necessary to protect the life, health, safety, and welfare of such employees and frequenters. Every employer and every owner of a place of employment or a public building now or hereafter constructed shall so construct, repair or maintain such place of employment or public building as to render the same safe.
101.11(2)(a)(a) No employer shall require, permit or suffer any employee to go or be in any employment or place of employment which is not safe, and no such employer shall fail to furnish, provide and use safety devices and safeguards, or fail to adopt and use methods and processes reasonably adequate to render such employment and place of employment safe, and no such employer shall fail or neglect to do every other thing reasonably necessary to protect the life, health, safety or welfare of such employees and frequenters; and no employer or owner, or other person shall hereafter construct or occupy or maintain any place of employment, or public building, that is not safe, nor prepare plans which shall fail to provide for making the same safe.
101.11(2)(b)
(b) No employee shall remove, displace, damage, destroy or carry off any safety device or safeguard furnished and provided for use in any employment or place of employment, nor interfere in any way with the use thereof by any other person, nor shall any such employee interfere with the use of any method or process adopted for the protection of any employee in such employment or place of employment or frequenter of such place of employment, nor fail or neglect to do every other thing reasonably necessary to protect the life, health, safety or welfare of such employees or frequenters.
101.11(3)
(3) This section applies to community-based residential facilities as defined in
s. 50.01 (1g).
101.11 History
History: 1971 c. 185; Stats. 1971 s. 101.11;
1975 c. 413;
1987 a. 161 s.
13m.
101.11 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
Comm 61,
62,
63,
64, and
65, Wis. adm. code.
101.11 Annotation
Ordinary negligence can be compared with negligence founded upon the safe place statute. In making the comparison, a violation of the statute is not to be considered necessarily as contributing more than the common-law contributory negligence. Lovesee v. Allied Development Corp.
45 Wis. 2d 340,
173 N.W.2d 196 (1970).
101.11 Annotation
When an apartment complex was managed for a fee by a management company, the company was carrying on a business there. Reduction of rent to one of the tenants for caretaking services constituted employment on the premises. A tenant who fell on the icy parking lot after the caretaker knew of the condition need only prove negligence in maintaining the premises. Wittka v. Hartnell,
46 Wis. 2d 374,
175 N.W.2d 248 (1970).
101.11 Annotation
A public sidewalk is not made a place of employment merely because an employer constructed it and kept it free of ice and snow. Petroski v. Eaton Yale & Towne, Inc.
47 Wis. 2d 617,
178 N.W.2d 53 (1970).
101.11 Annotation
The fact that a violation of the safe place statute is found puts the burden on the owner to rebut the presumption of causation but does not establish as a matter of law that the defendant's negligence was greater than the plaintiff's. Frederick v. Hotel Investments, Inc.
48 Wis. 2d 429,
180 N.W.2d 562 (1970).
101.11 Annotation
A store must be held to have had constructive notice of a dangerous condition when it displayed shaving cream in spray cans on a counter and a 70-year old woman fell in cream sprayed on the white floor. Steinhorst v. H. C. Prange Co.
48 Wis. 2d 679,
180 N.W.2d 525 (1970).
101.11 Annotation
The mere existence of a step up into a hospital lavatory was not an unsafe condition. Prelipp v. Wausau Memorial Hospital,
50 Wis. 2d 27,
183 N.W.2d 24 (1971).
101.11 Annotation
Failure to light a parking lot can support a safe place action, but the evidence must show how long the light was burned out to constitute constructive notice. Low v. Siewert,
54 Wis. 2d 251,
195 N.W.2d 451 (1972).
101.11 Annotation
A parking lot owned by a city that is a continuation of a store parking lot used by the public for attending the city zoo and the store, even though maintained by the private property owner, is not a place of employment. Gordon v. Schultz Savo Stores, Inc.
54 Wis. 2d 692,
196 N.W.2d 633 (1972).
101.11 Annotation
Detailed construction specifications and the presence of engineers to insure compliance does not manifest control over the project so as to make the commission liable. Berger v. Metropolitan Sewerage Commission of Milwaukee,
56 Wis. 2d 741,
203 N.W.2d 87 (1973).
101.11 Annotation
In a safe place action the employee's contributory negligence is less when his or her act or omission has been committed in the performance of job duties. McCrossen v. Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co.
59 Wis. 2d 245,
208 N.W.2d 148 (1973).
101.11 Annotation
A pier at a beach open to the public for a fee constitutes a place of employment. Any distinction between licensees and invitees is irrelevant, and the statute imposes a higher duty as to safety than the common law. Gould v. Allstar Insurance Co.
59 Wis. 2d 355,
208 N.W.2d 388 (1973).
101.11 Annotation
A private road on the ground of a private racetrack that connected the track and a parking lot was subject to this section as to frequenters. Gross v. Denow,
61 Wis. 2d 40,
212 N.W.2d 2 (1973).
101.11 Annotation
A one-eighth inch variance in elevation between the sides of a ramp joint was too slight, as a matter of law, to constitute a violation of the safe place statute. Balas v. St. Sebastian's Congregation,
66 Wis. 2d 421,
225 N.W.2d 428 (1975).
