1. Understanding the Revised Worker Protection Standard What growers and their employees need to know
Presenter name(s)
Presenter title
Created by: Joe Becovitz, Pesticide Program Specialist, Office of Indiana State Chemist

2. Disclaimer
This presentation is an overview only and does not fully address all the requirements of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS).
Details on total compliance can be found in US EPA’s How to Comply Manual which can be downloaded free from the OISC website at
Click on Alerts
Most of the rules went into effect Jan Training and Poster available Jan
From the website there’s a 1 page pdf that can be printed and distributed, and a national website of training materials
OISC in 2017 will be “compliance assistance” As long as human health and environment not threatened.

3. You are covered by the WPS if you
Produce an agricultural plant on a
Farm
Forest
Nursery or in an
Enclosed space (such as a greenhouse) AND
You use a pesticide with WPS language on the label
Image credit: Chazzbo Media

4. Uses NOT covered under WPS include
Pasture or rangeland
Livestock and their premise
Rodent control if not related to crop production
Harvested portion of crops (such as grain)
Mosquito abatement
Right-of-way (such as ditch bank weed control)
Photo credit Iowa NRCS
Photo credit: Purdue ACS

5. Who does the WPS protect?
Workers – perform hand labor tasks such as:
Harvesting
Weeding
Pruning
in a pesticide treated area within 30 days after an application
Handlers – must be at least 18 years old*
Mix, load, apply a pesticide or
Work on pesticide application equipment
*At least 18 years old --- Age limit new

6. Who is partially exempt from WPS?
Majority of the establishment (more than 50%)
is owned by one or more members of the same immediate family
Then--

7. Who is partially exempt from WPS?
Then the immediate family is exempt from:
Pesticide safety training
Notice of applications
Records of applications and posting of SDS
Emergency assistance
Decontamination supplies
Example: a child that works on the farm doesn’t require training or notice of application. BUT wouldn’t you want to?

8. How is immediate family defined?
Nieces
Sisters-in-law
Mother-in-law
Sons-in-law
Sisters
Parents
Grand children
Daughter-in-law
Step children
First cousins
Children
Nephews
Aunts
Grand parents
Brothers
Father-in-law
Uncles
Spouse
Foster
children
Step parents
Brothers-in-law
Foster parents
Photo from PERCTTT presentation
Spouse, parents, stepparents, foster parents, father-in-law, mother-in-law, children, stepchildren, foster children, sons-in-law, daughter’s-in-law, grandparents, brothers, sisters, brother’s-in-law, sister’s-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and first cousins

9. What is NOT exempt?
Owners and immediate family must still follow all specific pesticide label instructions.
Before applying any product that requires a respirator the applicator must:
Obtain a medical evaluation
Be trained in the correct use and upkeep of the respirator
Be fit tested for the proper respirator

10. 2 years What is NOT exempt Must keep records for two years of the
Medical evaluation
Training and upkeep
Fit testing
2 years
Image credit: Jennifer Weber, Arizona Department of Agriculture

11. If all members of the audience employ ONLY immediate family you may STOP here. But don’t leave you need to stay for PARP credit!

12. Grower responsibilities for employees
Pesticide safety training
Safety, application and hazard information
Notice about applications
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Decontamination supplies
Emergency assistance
Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ)
Additional requirements
25’

13. Pesticide safety training
Workers trained before entering a pesticide treated area
Handlers trained before any handling task
W & H* receive yearly training
Grower keep record of training for two years
Training ONLY with EPA approved materials
Trainer present during entire training
Training in language W or H* can understand
*Worker & Handler

14. Who can train? Certified commercial applicator Private applicator
Graduate of Train the Trainer course
Expanded training content in January 2018
Image credit: Jennifer Weber, AZ Department of Agriculture

15. Safety, application & hazard information
Must be displayed if an application within 30 days and workers and/or handlers are present
Pesticide safety poster (new January 2018)
Safety Data Sheets(SDS)

16. Safety, application & hazard information
Record of applications must include:
Location and description of treated area
Product name, EPA Reg.# and active ingredient(s)
Restricted Entry Interval (REI)
Time (including start and end time) & date of app
Records kept for two years
Image credit: Jennifer Weber, AZ Department of Agriculture

17. Notice about applications
Orally warn workers and post warning signs if required by the label (double notification)
If double notification NOT required then post warning signs if the REI is greater than
4 hours for enclosed spaces (greenhouses)
48 hours for outdoor production
For all other applications, EITHER orally warn workers OR post warning signs
Image credits: Betsy Buffington, Iowa State University

18. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Employers must provide the PPE on the label
For WPS, long-sleeved shirt, short sleeved shirt, long pants, short pants, shoes and socks are considered standard attire and DO NOT have to be provided by the employer
Image credit: Sarah Risorto, UC Statewide IPM Program
Image credit: Penn State Extension, The Pennsylvania State University

19. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
NEW: Remember respirators have special requirements including:
Medical evaluation
Training on use and upkeep
Fit testing
Records for two years
Image credit: Penn State Extension, The Pennsylvania State University

20. Decontamination supplies
Supplies within ¼ mile of worksite
Plenty of soap and single use towels for W & H
One gallon of water per worker
Three gallons of water per handler
Change of clothes for handler
For products that require eye protection or if the handler is mixing or loading using a closed operating system under pressure
1 pint immediately available
Extra three gallons available for continuous eye flush

21. Image Credit: Bruce Bordelon, Purdue HLA

22. Emergency assistance
If there is reason to believe a worker or handler has been exposed to a pesticide
Transport promptly to a medical facility
Promptly provide to medical personnel
Product name, EPA Reg.# and active ingredient(s)
How pesticide was being used
Circumstances of exposure
SDS (Safety Data Sheets)

23. The Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ)
The AEZ is a zone or area surrounding pesticide application equipment that exists ONLY during outdoor applications
Intent is to insure no unprotected persons will be drifted on
Grower must not allow workers or other unprotected persons in the AEZ
Applicator to suspend if anyone in AEZ
Same as old site-awareness
Don’t drift on people!

24. AEZs on Field Borders
When the application is finished the AEZ no longer exists.
SUSPEND!
There are workers from the neighboring field in the AEZ!
Proceed with caution.
EVALUATE!
Can you ask the workers to move somewhere else until you are done with the application?
Yes, they agreed to move!
Neighboring Field
Source: Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative
Information required to be covered:
A handler must immediately suspend the application if a worker or other person (other than handler) is in AEZ.
Can continue with application when people move or after an assessment of the situation guarantee no drift to people off the establishment
Not limited to boundaries of agricultural establishment
One of the three requirements with a delayed compliance date (January, 2018) to allow for handlers to be trained on new content
Explain that the “suspend application” provision does apply beyond the boundaries of the establishment because the handler (applicator) and handler employer do have control over the pesticide application and are subject to a WPS requirement to apply the pesticide in a way that will not contact workers or other persons on or off the establishment.
Your Field

25. Additional requirements
Ag dealers will inform growers about applications including
Location of field to be treated
Date of app including start and end time
Product name, EPA Reg.#, REI and active ingredient(s)
Oral, posted warnings or both
Any other safety requirements on the label
Photo Credit: Office of Indiana State Chemist

26. Questions? Joe Becovitz---Pesticide Program Specialistor