Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8

Worker Protection Standard

SCOPE & PURPOSE

• To reduce the risks of illness or injury resulting from workers’ and handlers’ occupational exposures to pesticides

• Requires workplace practices designed to reduce or eliminate exposure to pesticides and establishes procedures for responding to emergencies

Overview

• Importance of WPS

• WPS Elements for workers and handlers

• WPS Elements for workers

• WPS Elements for handlers

• WPS in WY

*This presentation is solely intended for guidance. The information in this guidance does not constitute a rulemaking by the Agency, and may not be relied on to create a

substantive or procedural right or benefit enforceable at law by any person. Refer to the WPS regulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 170.

Why is this important?• To be in compliance with Federal

Regulations

• To gain employer benefits

Protecting your workforce may result in…– Increased productivity and efficiency– Reduced absenteeism and turnover rates– Reduced overhead– Greater profits– Increased employee loyalty– Positive public perception– Sense of pride and confidence

Employee Benefits

• Reduced risk of poisonings

• Reduced risk of injuries

• Maintain health & steady income

WPS applies when……any pesticide product is used on an agricultural

establishment in the production of agricultural plants

• Agricultural establishment = farm, forest, nursery, greenhouse

• Agricultural plants = food, feed and fiber plants, trees, turfgrass, flowers, shrubs, ornamentals, and seedlings

WPS Applies if…• You apply or employ others to apply

pesticides for production of agricultural plants on a farm, forest nursery, or greenhouse

• That you own or manage• Where you hire a contractor for services, including

labor contractors

• You operate a business in which you or people you employ perform tasks as a crop advisor on any farm, forest, nursery, or greenhouse

Responsibility for WPS Compliance

• Employer bears primary responsibility

• Labor contractors may also be jointly responsible

READ THE LABEL!

• WPS resides in the label• Exempt pesticide uses

– Use on livestock– Mosquito abatement– Control of vertebrate pests– Others…

“Agricultural Use Requirements” box

Duties for ALL employers

1. Information at a Central Location

2. Pesticide Safety Training

3. Decontamination Site

4. Information Exchange

5. Emergency Assistance

(of Workers and Handlers)

1. Information at a Central Location

• Display where workers/handlers can readily see, read, and access it

• Display where workers/handlers are likely to congregate or pass by

• Inform workers/handlers of

location

Example of Central Locations

Example of Central Locations

1. Information at Central Location

• Pesticide safety poster

• Specific information about applications– Location and description of treated area– Product name, EPA #, active ingredients– Time and date pesticide is to be applied

– Restricted-entry interval

• Emergency information– Name, address, telephone number of nearest

emergency medical care facility

1. Information at Central Location

What if treated soil/plants are moved during the REI or 30 days after the REI?

– Central posting information must remain reasonably accurate• Update information• Provide change of location information beforehand• Refer to markings on the pots in the posting• Other systematic matter

2. Pesticide Safety Training• Must provide basic pesticide safety information

before entering a treated area– Where pesticides are found– How to prevent pesticides from entering the body– Further training provided within 5 days

• Ensure complete training occurs before the 6th working day or before early-entry & handler tasks

• Training must occur

every 5 years

2. Pesticide Safety Training• Training may include written and/or audiovisual

materials• Use qualified instructor (certified applicator,

designated trainer, handler – for workers only) who presents training in a manner employees understand and responds to questions

• Use EPA-approved materials• 11 points of worker training;

additional handler points

3. Decontamination Site

• Locate within ¼ mile of workers & handlers– Cool, clean water for washing, eye flushing, and

drinking– Soap– Single-use towels– Clean change of

clothes (handlers)

MO Dept. of Ag.

2. Decontamination Site

• Decontamination Kit

4. Information Exchange

• Before application, commercial handlers must inform ag establishment operator of– Location and description of area to be treated– Time and date of application– Product name, EPA Reg. #., active ingredients, REI– If oral and/or posted warning is required– Other label safety requirements

4. Information Exchange cont’d…

• Ag establishment operator must inform commercial handler of– Location and description of all areas where

pesticides will be applied or where REI will be in effect while handler is on establishment

– Restrictions on entering those areas

5. Emergency Assistance

• Provide emergency transportation• Provide information to victim and medical

personnel- product name, EPA registration number,

active ingredient(s)- first aid & medical information from label- pesticide use information- information about victim’s exposure

Additional duties for Worker employers(see also worker protection box on product label)

1. Notice of applications - Oral and/or posted warnings (according to the label)

- POST all greenhouse applications at all entrances- No sooner than 24 hours before application- During the entire restricted-entry interval- No more than 3 days beyond the restricted-entry interval

Additional duties for Worker employers(see also worker protection box on product label)

2. Entry restrictions after applications– Follow ‘Restricted Entry Interval’ on label– Special application restrictions in greenhouses– Early-entry workers and handlers wearing PPE

can perform certain approved tasks

3. Restrictions during applications– Entry allowed only to trained and equipped

handlers – In nurseries, area immediately around treated

area may also be restricted (25 – 100 ft.)

Additional duties for Handler employers

1. Give handlers specific instructions • Instructions for the safe use of pesticide

product and application equipment• Label is accessible at all times

2. Provide personal protective equipment (PPE)• Clean, properly fit, inspect and repair as necessary

Additional duties for Handler employers

3. Monitor handlers in hazardous

situations• Every 2 hours with skull and cross bones on label• Visual or voice contact with greenhouse fumigation

Agricultural Establishment Owners and Immediate Family

• Maintain & use personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Observe restricted entry interval (REI)• Participate in employer information exchange

WPS in WY & CO

• Common WPS violations*:– 71% posting of application information– 71% safety training– 48% safety poster, emergency information– 43% notice of applications– 38% decontamination

* Violation rates for one EPA inspector

SummaryGOAL: to protect employees on farms and

in forests, nurseries, and greenhouses from exposure to agricultural pesticides

HOW: through a set of common-sense workplace practices to reduce or eliminate exposure

RESULT: healthy employees = healthy workforce = many potential benefits

Questions?

US EPA999 18th Street, Suite 300Denver, CO 802021 800 227-8917

Barbara Barron

303 312-6617

barron.barbara@epa.gov

Jaslyn Dobrahner

303 312-6252

dobrahner.jaslyn@epa.gov

Peg Perreault303 312-6286perreault.peg@epa.gov