(1) "Employer" includes every person, firm, corporation, partnership, stock association, agent, manager, representative, or foreman, or other persons having control or custody of any place of employment or of any employees, except agricultural and domestic labor and those employers having less than eight employees. Naval stores producers shall be classified as agricultural, except where otherwise classified by federal laws.
(2) "Safe" or "safety" as applied to any employment or place of employment shall include conditions and methods of sanitation and hygiene reasonably necessary for the protection of the life, health, safety, and welfare of employees.