Sec. 31-40a. (Formerly Sec. 19-48). Reports of occupational diseases and investigations concerning them. - Connecticut Statutes

      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".