Worker Protection Standard 40 CFR –

Purpose of WPS  It is designed to reduce the risks of illness or injury resulting from workers' and handlers' occupational exposures to pesticides used in the production of agricultural plants on farms or in nurseries, greenhouses, and forests and also from the accidental exposure of workers and other persons to such pesticides.

What 2 types of employers does WPS cover?  Worker Employers  Handler Employers

Definitions  Agricultural employer  Agricultural establishment  Agricultural plant  Chemigation  Commercial pesticide handling establishment  Crop advisor  Early entry  Farm  Forest  Fumigant  Greenhouse  Hand labor  Handler  Handler employer  Immediate family  Nursery  Owner  Restricted-entry interval  Treated area  Worker

Exceptions  These subparts do not apply when any pesticide is applied on an agricultural establishment in the following circumstances:  On plants that are in ornamental gardens, parks, and public or private lawns and grounds that are intended only for aesthetic purposes or climatic modification

Notice of Applications  The agricultural employer shall post warning signs  The signs shall:  Be posted no sooner than 24 hours before the scheduled application of the pesticide  Remain posted throughout the application and any restricted- entry interval  Be removed within 3 days after the end of the application

Information About Applications  This information must be legible, accessible by all employees, and placed in a central location  Information must be posted for 30 days after the REI.  Handlers must provide employers with this information before the application is performed.

Application Log Application 1Application 2Application 3 Area Treated: Location & Description Product Name EPA Registration Number Active Ingredient: Common or Chemical Name Application Month/Day/Time Do Not Enter Until: Month/Day/Time

Pesticide Safety Training  May be given orally from written material and/or audiovisual materials.  Must use EPA approved material for training workers.  Must use EPA approved material for training handlers.  Must be trained every 5 years.

When must training take place for Workers?  Workers must be trained on the following when hired:  Pesticides may be on or in plants, soil, irrigation water, or drifting from nearby applications.  Prevent pesticides from entering your body.  Additional training is done 5 days later.

When must training take place for Handlers?  Handlers must be trained before they perform any task with pesticides.

Who may conduct training for Workers and Handlers  A worker who is currently certified as an applicator of restricted- use pesticides  Be currently designated as a trainer of certified applicators or pesticide handlers  Have completed a pesticide safety train- the-trainer program

Posted Pesticide Safety Information  Pesticide Safety Poster  Emergency medical care information  Location  Accessibility  Legibility

Decontamination  A decontamination site must be within a ¼ mile of all workers and handlers  Water used for decontamination must be safe and cool enough for washing, eyeflushing, and drinking. *Tank Stored water that is used for mixing pesticides may not be used for decontamination.

What is in a Decontamination Kit?  There should be enough water for routine and emergency washing and eyeflushing.  Soap  Single Use Towels  Change of Clothes

Additional Information on Decontamination  The decontamination site for workers must not be in a treated area or one that is under an REI.  Handlers must be provided decontamination supplies at mixing and loading sites and where PPE is removed.  Handler decontamination supplies must be in enclosed containers if stored in treated areas.  Handlers must have at least 1 pint of eyeflush water immediately accessible.

Emergency Assistance and The Agricultural Employer Shall;  Make available prompt transportation from the agricultural establishment to an appropriate emergency medical facility.  Provide to that person or to treating medical personnel, promptly upon request, any obtainable information on the following:

Emergency Assistance and cont.  Product name, EPA registration number, and active ingredient(s).  All first aid and medical information from label.  A description of how the pesticide was used.  Information about the victim’s exposure.

Additional Information for Handlers  The handler shall assure that no pesticide is applied so as to contact, either directly or through drift, any worker or other person, other than an appropriately trained and equipped handler  The handler employer shall assure that before the handler uses any equipment for mixing, loading, transferring, or applying pesticides, the handler is instructed in the safe operation of such equipment.

What about PPE?

Personal Protective Equipment  Any person who performs tasks as a pesticide handler shall use the clothing and personal protective equipment specified on the labeling for use of the product.  When the use of personal protective equipment is specified by the labeling of any pesticide for the handling activity, the handler employer shall assure that no handler is allowed or directed to perform the handling activity unless appropriate measures are taken, if necessary, to prevent heat-related illness.

Photos of Emergency Showers

Photos of Eyeflushing Stations

Photo of Application Logs

Review  Safety Training  Workers  Handlers  Posted Information  Safety Poster  Application Logs  No Enter Signs for REI  Decontamination  Water for eyeflushing and Body washing  Soap, Single Use Towels, Change of Clothes  Emergency Assistance  Transportation  Information

Sources  USDA  EPA  Electronic CFR -