THE
WORKER PROTECTION
STANDARD
Pesticide Emphasis Program
Oregon OSHA
WORKER PROTECTION
STANDARD
• An EPA standard (circa 1994) enforced by
Oregon OSHA
• Covers all pesticides with an Ag Use Box
• Covers Handlers (applicators,
mixer/loaders, propagators, mechanics, or
anyone assisting in the application);
Workers (hand labor tasks); and Early Entry
Workers.
Find this statement on the
label:
When does the WPS Apply?
• When workers are at your farm, forest,
nursery or greenhouses, AND
• Pesticides have been used in the previous 30
days PLUS the Restricted Entry Interval
(REI).
Central Posting Area Elements
1 Pesticide Safety Poster
# 1 Most Frequently
Violated
2 Pesticide Application Record
Area Treated
Product Name
EPA Reg.
Number
Common Name
Active Ingredient
Application
Month/Day/
Time
Restricted
Entry
Interval
Do Not Enter
Until: Month/
Day/Time
3
Name, address &
phone of nearest
hospital
Posting Confusions
vs
Area Treated
Field
Product Name
EPA Reg.
Number
Common Name
Active Ingredient
Application
Month/Day/
Time
Restricted
Entry
Interval
Do Not Enter
Until: Month/
Day/Time
Central
Posting
Frequently Encountered
CPA Issues
• Pesticide application information kept in
file in the employer’s office.
• Rooting hormones not included.
• Herbicides not included
• Non-RUPs not included
• Applications made by commercial
applicators not included.
• Application record not maintained.
Application Notification
•
•
•
•
Options:
Post the field
Orally notify
Post and Orally notify
• Which method??
• Follow the label
– If it doesn’t specify
– Pick one method and
tell your employees
Application Notification
• ALL greenhouse
applications MUST be
posted.
Application Information/
Information Exchange
Who needs to know??
• Your employees
• Commercial applicators arriving onsite
• Labor contractors
• The GOAL is to: Prevent exposure!
Pesticide Safety Training
• Who is a handler?
– Anyone who mixes, loads, or applies pesticides,
or works on spray equipment
– Includes dipping cuttings for propagation
Who is a worker?
– Performs activities related to the production of
agricultural plants (includes forestry)
Pesticide Safety Training
Handlers
Workers
Pesticide Safety Training
Early Entry Workers
• The agricultural employer shall assure that the
worker, before entering the treated area, either has
read the product labeling or has been informed, in
a manner that the worker can understand, of all the
labeling requirements related to human hazards or
precautions, first aid, symptoms of poisoning, ppe
specified for early entry and any other labeling
requirements related to safe use.
Early Entry Requirements
•
•
•
•
Decontamination
Personal protective equipment
Cleaning of personal protective equipment
Label information
Field Decontamination
WORKERS + *HANDLERS
Within ¼ mile of worksite
• Soap
• Water
• Paper towels
• Eye flush bottle (where label
use requires protective
eyewear)
• *HANDLERS: Extra
coveralls
Handler Decontamination
•
•
•
•
•
•
AT THE MIX SITE
Soap
Water
Paper towels
Extra coveralls
*Emergency eyewash if
using DANGER: Poison
or DANGER: Corrosive.
*(Division 4 requirement)
Decontamination Violations
FY 2008
Emergency Eyewash
(15 minute capacity)
NOT at the mix site
when using pesticides
capable of producing
irreversible eye
damage
Cited: 23 times
Emergency Assistance
• If an employee is
SUSPECTED of
having a pesticide
related illness
PROVIDE
transportation to a
medical facility and
provide the pesticide
label(s) also.
• Known or suspected
pesticide poisoning is
a reportable condition.
RESTRICTIONS DURING
APPLICATIONS
Contact with Workers and Other
Persons
• The employer 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.
Handlers handling highly toxic
pesticides
• If the label has this:
• Monitor the handler
visually or by voice
communication AT
LEAST every 2
hours.
Fumigant Applications in
Greenhouses
• Handlers applying
fumigants in a
greenhouse must
maintain continuous
visual or voice contact
with another handler.
• The other handler has
immediate access to
the ppe required by the
label for rescue.
Heat Stress
• Caused by heat, NOT pesticide exposure
• Wearing PPE increases risk
• Symptoms (similar):
– Fatigue, dizziness,
altered behavior
– Clammy skin or hot-dry skin
– Headache, nausea, chills
– Severe thirst
– Heavy sweating or lack of sweating
Knowledge of Labeling and SiteSpecific Information
• The employer SHALL ASSURE that before
the handler performs any handling activity
that the handler has EITHER read the
product labeling or has been informed in a
manner the handler can understand of all the
labeling requirements related to safe use of
the pesticide.
Knowledge of Labeling and SiteSpecific Information
• Labeling requirements for safe use include:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Signal words
Human Hazard precautions
PPE
First Aid instructions
Environmental precautions
Any others listed on label
Knowledge of Labeling
Information
• The handler employer
shall assure that the
handler has access to
the product labeling
information during
handling activities
Safe Operation of Equipment
Remove pesticide residues before allowing any
person to repair, clean or adjust equipment.
Safe Operation of Equipment
• Inspect equipment
before use to check for
leaks, clogging, worn
or damaged parts and
ensure that any
damaged equipment is
replaced or repaired.