WPS Worker Safety
Training
Forest
What does the Worker
Protection Standard cover?
• Pesticides used in production of
agricultural plants
Forests
Greenhouses
Farms
Nurseries
1. Agricultural
Workers
2. Early-entry
workers
3. Pesticide
Handlers
Agricultural workers
• Do hand labor, such as planting,
watering, and pruning
Joe Murray, Treebio.com
Early-entry workers
• Perform special tasks
involving anything
that has been treated
with a pesticide
Pesticide handlers
• Mix, load, apply,
clean, or repair
equipment
• Perform other
tasks in direct
contact with
pesticides
Worker training requirements
• Basic pesticide safety information
before entering a pesticide treated area
• Full training before 6th day of work
• Training required
every 5 years
WPS safety concept:
pesticides
• Where and in what form pesticides
may be encountered during work
activities
What is a pesticide?
• Substances used to control:
Insects – insecticides
Fungi – fungicides
Weeds – herbicides
Betsy Buffington, Iowa State University
Where can pesticides be
encountered during work activity?
What forms of pesticides can be
encountered during work activity?
WPS safety concept:
pesticide hazards
• Hazards of pesticides resulting from
toxicity and exposure, including:
–
–
–
–
Acute effects
Chronic effects
Delayed effects
Sensitization
RISK =
TOXICITY
EXPOSURE
Toxicity
• The degree or
extent to which a
chemical is
poisonous
Acute toxicity
Chronic toxicity
• Effects from a single
exposure over a short
period of time
• Effects are not seen
until much later
• Result of repeated
exposures
Sensitization
• Certain people
develop allergic
reactions or
sensitization to
some types of
pesticides
WPS safety concept:
routes of entry
• Routes by which pesticides can enter
the body
Exposure
Pesticides
Swallowing
absorbed
pesticides;
through skin wiping mouth
Breathe in
vapors or
dusts
Pesticides in
eyes;
rubbing eyes
WPS safety concept:
signs and symptoms
• Signs and symptoms of common types
of pesticide poisonings
Signs and symptoms
• Skin rashes, irritation to
nose, throat or eyes
• Nausea, sweating, headache,
dizziness, muscle pains,
cramps
• Trouble breathing, blurred
vision
WPS safety concept:
first aid & medical care
• Emergency first aid for pesticide injuries
or poisonings
Dermal exposure
• Rinse with water
• Remove
contaminated
clothing
• Wash with plenty
of soap and water
Oral exposure
• Rinse mouth with water
• Do not induce vomiting if
– victim is unconscious
– having convulsions
– petroleum based product
– corrosive pesticide
– label specifies NOT to
induce vomiting
Inhalation exposure
•
•
•
•
Remove to fresh air
Loosen tight clothing
Keep air passages clear
Perform artificial
respiration if necessary
Eye exposure
• Wash eye with a
gentle stream of
clean water for 15+
minutes
• Get medical
attention if there is
pain or reddening of
the eye
Obtaining medical care
WPS safety concept: obtaining
emergency medical care
• How to obtain emergency medical care
If you suspect
poisoning
1. Contact a doctor
immediately
–
EPA safety poster
Safety
poster
If you suspect
poisoning
1. Contact a doctor
immediately
2. Tell what pesticides
were being used and
the EPA registration
number
If you suspect
poisoning
1. Contact a doctor
immediately
2. Tell what pesticides
were being used and
the EPA registration
number
3. Take labels along if
medical care is
needed
WPS safety concept:
decontamination
• Routine and emergency
decontamination procedures
Decontamination supplies
Everyday decontamination
Everyday decontamination
Emergency decontamination
• Stop work and leave work area
• Remove contaminated clothing
• Rinse exposed skin with water right
away
• Wash with soap and water ASAP
• Provide assistance if necessary
• Medical attention may be necessary
Eye flushing technique
• Use eye-wash fountain or pour
water in eyes
• Hold eye open while flushing
• Move eye ball and eye lid
• Flush for minimum of
15 minutes
• Seek medical attention ASAP
Betsy Buffington, Iowa State University
WPS safety concept:
chemigation and drift
• Hazards from chemigation and drift
Chemigation
• Uses irrigation water to apply pesticides
to soils and crops
• Never use irrigation water for drinking
or washing
Clemson
Pesticide drift
• Leave the area immediately if pesticides are
being applied or pesticide drift from a nearby
application is moving towards you
WPS safety concept:
pesticides on clothing
• Hazards from pesticide residues on
clothing
Pesticide residues on clothing
• From brushing up
against:
– Plants
– Equipment
– Pesticides
WPS safety concept:
taking pesticides home
• Warnings about taking pesticides or
pesticide containers home
Do not take
pesticides home
WPS safety concept: explanation of
WPS requirements that workers
must follow
• Notification of application and entry
restrictions
• Availability of information about applications
• Protection against retaliatory
acts
Central
location
information
TREATED AREA INFORMATION
Location of treated area plot 7
Name of pesticide Tordon RTU
EPA registration No. 62719-31
Active ingredient picloram
Time and date of application 7 am, July 31
Restricted Entry Interval (REI) 48 hours
Do not enter until 7 am, August 2
Restricted Entry Interval
• Amount of time that must pass before
anyone can safely re-enter the field or
greenhouse without personal protective
equipment
• Stated on pesticide label
• Usually listed in hours
Notification of pesticide
application
• Employers must
post signs around
treated areas
• Provide oral
warnings
OR
Retaliation prohibited…
• Employers or supervisors must not
prevent or discourage workers or
handlers from complying or attempting
to comply with the WPS
• Employer must not fire or otherwise
retaliate against any worker or handler
who attempts to comply
Early-entry workers
• Additional training to that already
covered today:
– PPE
– Label
– Heat illness
WPS safety concept: personal
protective equipment
Early-entry workers only!
• Need for and appropriate use of
personal protective equipment
Minimize exposure
Hand
protection
Viton
Barrier laminate
Butyl Rubber
Neoprene
Nitrile Rubber
Protection for the body
Joyce Hornstein, Iowa State University
Eye & face protection
Rich McColley, Iowa State University
Respiratory protection
NIOSH approved
Note: Medical approval, fit test
and additional training required
Rich McColley, Iowa State University
Care and maintenance
• Inspect before each use
• Replace damaged or worn parts
• Properly dispose of
damaged, contaminated
or worn out PPE to
prevent reuse
Rich McColley, Iowa State University
WPS safety concept: the label
Early-entry workers only!
• Format and meaning of information
contained on pesticide labels and in
labeling, including safety information
such as precautionary
statements about human
health hazards
Precautionary statements
• Hazards to humans
and domestic animals
• Environmental
hazards
• Physical or chemical
hazards
Betsy Buffington, Iowa State University
Hazards to Humans and Domestic
Animals
Signal word
CAUTION
HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN.
Avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing.
Wear long-sleeved shirt and long pants,
socks and shoes and chemical resistant
gloves made of any waterproof material
such as polyvinyl chloride, nitrile rubber or
butyl rubber. Wash thoroughly with soap
and water after handling.
Signal words
Signal Word
Caution
Warning
Danger
Toxicity
Low toxicity – may cause slight
eye or skin irritation
Moderately toxic – can cause
moderate eye or skin irritation
Highly toxic – corrosive and can
cause irreversible eye damage
or severe skin injury
Hazards to Humans and Domestic
Animals
Routes of entry
CAUTION
HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN.
Avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing.
Wear long-sleeved shirt and long pants,
socks and shoes and chemical resistant
gloves made of any waterproof material
such as polyvinyl chloride, nitrile rubber or
butyl rubber. Wash thoroughly with soap
and water after handling.
Hazards to Humans and Domestic
Animals
CAUTION
HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN.
Avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing.
Wear long-sleeved shirt and long pants,
socks and shoes and chemical resistant
gloves made of any waterproof material
such as polyvinyl chloride, nitrile rubber or
butyl rubber. Wash thoroughly with soap
and water after handling.
PPE
Statement of
practical treatment
• What to do if poisoning occurs
AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS
Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection
Standard, 40 CFR Part 170. This Standard contains requirements for the protection of
agricultural workers on farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses, and handlers of
agricultural pesticides. It contains requirements for training, decontamination, notification,
and emergency assistance. It also contains specific instructions and exceptions pertaining
to the statements on this label about personal protective equipment (PPE), and restricted
entry interval. The requirements in this box only apply to uses of this product that are
covered by the Worker Protection Standard.
REI
Do not enter or allow entry into treated areas during the restricted entry interval (REI) of 12
hours.
PPE required for early entry to treated areas that is permitted under the Worker Protection
Standard and that involves contact with anything that has been treated such as plants, soil
or water is : coveralls, chemical-resistant gloves such as barrier laminate or butyl rubber or
nitrile rubber or viton, shoes plus socks and protective eye wear.
Do not enter or allow entry into treated
areas during the restricted entry interval
(REI) of 12 hours.
NON-AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS
The requirements in this box apply to uses of this product that are NOT within the scope of
the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural pesticides (40 CFR Part 170). The
WPS applies when this product is used to produce agricultural plants on farms, forests,
nurseries or greenhouses.
For ornamental turf uses (golf courses, cemeteries, parks and other turfgrasss areas), do
not allow people (other than applicator) or pets on treatment area during application. Do
not enter treatment areas until sprays have dried.
AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS
Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection
Standard, 40 CFR Part 170. This Standard contains requirements for the protection of
agricultural workers on farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses, and handlers of
agricultural pesticides. It contains requirements for training, decontamination, notification,
and emergency assistance. It also contains specific instructions and exceptions pertaining
to the statements on this label about personal protective equipment (PPE), and restricted
entry interval. The requirements in this box only apply to uses of this product that are
covered by the Worker Protection Standard.
Do not enter or allow entry into treated areas during the restricted entry interval (REI) of 12
hours.
PPE for
early entry
workers
PPE required for early entry to treated areas
that is permitted under the Worker Protection
Standard and that involves contact with
anything that has been treated such as
plants, soil or water is: coveralls, chemicalresistant gloves such as barrier laminate or
butyl rubber or nitrile rubber or viton, shoes
plus socks and protective eye wear.
PPE required for early entry to treated areas that is permitted under the Worker Protection
Standard and that involves contact with anything that has been treated such as plants, soil
or water is : coveralls, chemical-resistant gloves such as barrier laminate or butyl rubber or
nitrile rubber or viton, shoes plus socks and protective eye wear.
NON-AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS
The requirements in this box apply to uses of this product that are NOT within the scope of
the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural pesticides (40 CFR Part 170). The
WPS applies when this product is used to produce agricultural plants on farms, forests,
nurseries or greenhouses.
For ornamental turf uses (golf courses, cemeteries, parks and other turfgrasss areas), do
not allow people (other than applicator) or pets on treatment area during application. Do
not enter treatment areas until sprays have dried.
WPS safety concept:
heat stress
Early-entry workers only!
• Prevention, recognition and first aid
treatment of heat-related illness
Heat exhaustion symptoms
•
•
•
•
•
Sweating or dry skin
Headache
Fatigue
Dry mouth
Fast pulse (slow if
person has fainted)
•
•
•
•
•
Nausea
Dilated (large) pupils
Loss of coordination
Confusion
Fainting (quick
recovery)
Control heat stress
• Drink lots of
water
• Build up heat
tolerance
• Take periodic
breaks
Treatment of heat stress
• Get out of the sun
• Drink fluids
• Loosen or remove
clothing
• Get help
Resources
• Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land
Stewardship
– http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us
• ISU Pest Management & the
Environment
– http://www.extension.iastate.edu/PME
• ISU Extension Online Store
– https://www.extension.iastate.edu/store/
Acknowledgements
• This project has been funded by the Iowa
Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship through a grant from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
• The contents do not necessarily reflect the
views and policies of the Environmental
Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade
names or commercial products constitute
endorsement or recommendation for use