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…
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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
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Use on livestock
Mosquito abatement
Control of vertebrate pests
Others…
“Agricultural Use
Requirements” box
Duties for ALL employers
(of Workers and Handlers)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Information at a Central Location
Pesticide Safety Training
Decontamination Site
Information Exchange
Emergency Assistance
1. Information at a Central Location
•
Display where workers/handlers can
readily see, read, and access it
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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Instructions for the safe use of pesticide
product and application equipment
Label is accessible at all times
2. Provide personal protective equipment (PPE)
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Clean, properly fit, inspect and repair as necessary
Additional duties for Handler employers
3. Monitor handlers in hazardous
situations
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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
Summary
GOAL: 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?
Peg Perreault
303 312-6286
perreault.peg@epa.gov
Barbara Barron
Jaslyn Dobrahner
303 312-6617
303 312-6252
barron.barbara@epa.gov
dobrahner.jaslyn@epa.gov
US EPA
999 18th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
1 800 227-8917