Worker Protection Standard
23 February 2009 In 1992, the EPA revised its Worker Protection Standard (WPS) that protects agricultural workers from pesticide exposure. These regulations apply to “agricultural workers” and “pesticide handlers.”
Most pesticide uses involved in the production of agricultural plants on a farm, nursery, forest, or greenhouse are covered by the WPS. If you are using a pesticide product with labeling that refers to the Worker Protection Standard, you must comply with it.
Owners and immediate family who work on the farm are exempt from most regulations under the WPS (see checklist below). But they must comply with requirements for personal protective equipment and restricted-entry intervals.
Protection For Workers
For growers who employ agricultural workers — those who perform tasks related to the cultivation and harvesting of plants on farms or in greenhouses, but who aren’t involved in actual pesticide handling or application — the following rules apply:
In a central location at the growing area, the following information must be displayed:
- A WPS safety poster (available from EPA or WPS material suppliers) explaining that WPS is in effect and supplies information on how workers can protect themselves from pesticides’ harmful effects.
- Name, address, and phone number of nearest emergency facility.
- Information about each pesticide application from before it begins until 30 days after the restricted-entry interval (REI). Note: An REI is the time following an application when entry into the treated area is prohibited, except in very few cases. REIs are found on pesticide labels.
The posted information must include the pesticide’s name, EPA registration number, active ingredient, location and description of treated area, time and date of application, and REI.
Growers must tell workers where this information is posted, allow them access, keep the information updated, and keep it legible. The information must be posted until at least 30 days after the REI expires.
Oral And Posted Warnings
Workers must be orally warned about applications or posted warnings must be placed at entrances to treated areas according to the labeling requirements. Both oral and posted warnings should be used if the labeling requires. If not, workers should be informed which method, oral or posting, is used.
If oral warnings are issued (this need only be done for any workers who will pass within 1/4 mile of affected area), the following must be provided:
- Location and description of the treated area.
- REI information, including a warning not to enter during REI.
Affected workers who begin their shifts after application starts must receive the same warnings at the beginning of their shifts.
If 14- x 16-inch, WPS-designed signs are being posted (EPA’s compliance manual describes them), they must be placed at all entrances to treated areas including access roads, adjacent labor camp borders, and established walking routes. If no usual entrance points exist, signs must be posted in corners of treated areas or easily seen places. The warning signs should be posted just before application, left up during REI, and removed before workers enter and within three days of REI ending.
Training
Workers must be trained in pesticide safety. This must take place before they enter areas where REIs have been in effect within the last 30 days. They must be retrained every five years thereafter. Workers must be trained before accumulating five days of field work.
Persons eligible to conduct this training include:
- Pesticide applicators in any level of certification.
- Graduates of state or federal “train the trainer” programs.
- Those trained (according to EPA guidelines) as pesticide handlers who work under supervision of certified pesticide applicators.
To verify that workers have been trained, EPA has developed a voluntary program that uses EPA-developed or EPA-approved training materials, issues plastic training verification cards, and keeps rosters of those trained. Trainers issue plastic cards to workers, verifying they have been trained. Even though WPS does not require it, growers who train workers themselves should keep training logs specifying who was trained and when.
Decontamination Sites
Growers must provide decontamination sites for workers in pesticide-treated areas who are performing tasks involving contact with anything which may contain pesticides, be it soil, water, or plant surfaces. These sites must be provided until 30 days after the REI ends or, if no REI was in effect, 30 days after the end of application.
The decontamination sites must be located within 1/4 of a mile of the work area but must not be in treated areas or areas under REIs.
The sites must contain enough water for routine and emergency whole-body washing and eye flushing, and plenty of soap and single-use towels.
Emergencies
If a worker is poisoned or injured by pesticides, growers must arrange immediate transport to an appropriate medical facility. The victim and medical personnel should be supplied with the following:
- Product name.
- EPA registration number.
- Active ingredient.
- Medical information from label.
- Description of how it was used.
- Information about exposure.
Handlers/Applicators
Any agricultural grower or dealer employing pesticide handlers and applicators — those who mix, load, apply, clean, or repair equipment, or act as flaggers, etc. — must comply with the rules for ag workers as well as the following:
Training. Handlers require more extensive training than regular workers and must receive this training before they do any handling tasks.
Information. Before handlers work with any pesticides, they must be informed of all pesticide instructions for safe use. The labeling must be accessible to each handler through the entire handling and application process.
The following must be displayed at a central location to inform handlers about specific pesticide application information:
- Area treated with both location and description.
- Product name.
- EPA registration number.
- Active ingredient (would be the common or chemical name).
- Time of application: Must include month/day/time.
- Restricted-entry interval.
- Do not enter until: must include month/day/time.
The grower must ensure that an applicator knows the area to be treated, whether an REI will be in effect while the applicator is on the farm, and restrictions on entering those areas.
Equipment Safety. They must let only properly trained and equipped handlers repair or clean equipment that contains pesticides or residues. Handlers must be told how to use equipment safely.
Personal Protective Equipment. Pesticide labeling lists what personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn by handlers coming in contact with the pesticides. This equipment includes coveralls, gloves, goggles, and respirators.
Handlers must be supplied with PPE as required on the label. Handler employers must make sure PPE is:
- Clean and in operating condition.
- Worn and used correctly.
- Inspected each day before use.
- Repaired or replaced as needed.
Handlers must be provided with a pesticide-free area for storing personal clothing, putting PPE on, and taking it off. Handlers cannot take PPE home.
PPE must be stored and washed separately from other laundry. If PPE will be reused, it must be cleaned before each day of reuse. If workers are employed to wash PPE, they must be informed of the following:
- PPE may be contaminated.
- Exposure to pesticides may have harmful effects.
- How they can protect themselves while handling PPE.
- How they can clean PPE correctly by applying instructions from PPE manufacturers.
PPE that are heavily contaminated with undiluted pesticide and has a label with a Danger or Warning signal word written on it must be discarded in a manner consistent with federal, state, and local laws.
Respirator Fitting And Maintenance
Handler employers must replace dust/mist filters when the filters become damaged, when the respirator or pesticide label requires, and when breathing becomes difficult. Vapor-removing cartridges or canisters must be replaced when odor, taste, or irritation is noticed or when required by the label.
Application In The Field
Handler employers must ensure that sight or voice contact is made at least every two hours with anyone handling pesticides labeled with “skull and crossbones.”
Applicator Responsibilities
Responsibility for directly enforcing REIs – including posting signs and verbally warning workers not to reenter a field for a specified amount of time after an application – falls to the grower. Still, commercial applicators must ensure the owners/operators who hire them know:
- The location and description of the area to be treated.
- The time and date of application.
- The product name, EPA registration number, and active ingredient(s).
- All REIs for products the applicator is applying.
- Whether the product label requires both oral warnings and treated-area posting.
- PPE for handlers and early-entry PPE required for workers.
- All other safety requirements on labeling for both workers and other people.
Applicators must ensure a pesticide does not contact, directly or through drift, anyone other than trained PPE-equipped handlers.
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