An agricultural handler is further defined as a business operating a farm for purposes of cultivating the soil, raising or harvesting any agricultural commodity for food or fiber, or a processing facility of agricultural commodities. Agricultural commodity means an unprocessed product of farms, ranches, nurseries and forests. Agricultural commodities include fruits and vegetables; grains, such as wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale, rice, corn and sorghum; legumes, such as field beans and peas; animal feed and forage crops; rangeland and pasture; seed crops; fiber crops such as cotton; oil crops, such as safflower, sunflower, corn and cottonseed; trees grown for lumber and wood products; nursery stock grown commercially; Christmas trees; ornamentals and cut flowers; and turf grown commercially for sod.

Chapter 6.95 H&SC requires all businesses that handle hazardous materials in quantities equal to or greater than 55 gallons liquid, 500 pounds solid, or 200 cubic feet compressed gas to electronically submit business plan information through the California Electronic Reporting System (CERS) containing hazardous materials usage, facility contact information, a chemical inventory, a site plan showing the location of hazardous materials storage and use, and an emergency response plan and employee training program. The business plan is provided to emergency responders to alert them to the location and risks posed by the hazardous materials. 

Copies of the Emergency Response/Contingency Plan and Employee Training Plan are to be completed and retained on site at the agricultural business site. Each building in which hazardous materials above threshold quantities are stored must be posted with signs that provide notice of the storage of any of the following:

• Pesticides
• Petroleum fuels and oil.
• Types of fertilizers.

Agricultural Hazardous Materials Handler's Forms:

Instructions for Completing CERS Emergency Response/Contingency Plan
CERS Emergency Response/Contingency Plan Form 
Agricultural Hazardous Materials Handler's Disclosure Statement
Exemptions for Agricultural Handlers 
Agricultural Hazardous Materials Warning Sign
Hazardous Materials Business Plan Site Map Guidelines

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