Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides

1. Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8

2. 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

3. 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.

4. Why is this important? • To be in compliance with Federal Regulations • To gain employer benefits Protecting your workforce may result in… • Increased productivity and efficiency • Reduced absenteeism and turnover rates • Reduced overhead • Greater profits • Increased employee loyalty • Positive public perception • Sense of pride and confidence

5. Employee Benefits • Reduced risk of poisonings • Reduced risk of injuries • Maintain health & steady income

6. 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

7. 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

8. Responsibility for WPS Compliance • Employer bears primary responsibility • Labor contractors may also be jointly responsible

9. READ THE LABEL! • WPS resides in the label • Exempt pesticide uses • Use on livestock • Mosquito abatement • Control of vertebrate pests • Others… “Agricultural Use Requirements” box

10. Duties for ALL employers (of Workers and Handlers) • Information at a Central Location • Pesticide Safety Training • Decontamination Site • Information Exchange • Emergency Assistance

11. 1. Information at a Central Location • Display where workers/handlers can readily see, read, and access it • Display where workers/handlers are likely to congregate or pass by • Inform workers/handlers of location

12. Example of Central Locations

13. Example of Central Locations

14. 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

15. 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 • Update information • Provide change of location information beforehand • Refer to markings on the pots in the posting • Other systematic matter

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 2. Decontamination Site • Decontamination Kit

20. 4. Information Exchange • Before application, commercial handlers must inform ag establishment operator of • 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Additional duties for Worker employers(see also worker protection box on product label) • Notice of applications - Oral and/or posted warnings (according to the label) • 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

24. Additional duties for Worker employers(see also worker protection box on product label) 2. Entry restrictions after applications • Follow ‘Restricted Entry Interval’ on label • Special application restrictions in greenhouses • Early-entry workers and handlers wearing PPE can perform certain approved tasks • Restrictions during applications • Entry allowed only to trained and equipped handlers • In nurseries, area immediately around treated area may also be restricted (25 – 100 ft.)

25. Additional duties for Handler employers • Give handlers specific instructions • Instructions for the safe use of pesticide product and application equipment • Label is accessible at all times • Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) • Clean, properly fit, inspect and repair as necessary

26. Additional duties for Handler employers • Monitor handlers in hazardous situations • Every 2 hours with skull and cross bones on label • Visual or voice contact with greenhouse fumigation

27. Agricultural Establishment Owners and Immediate Family • Maintain & use personal protective equipment (PPE) • Observe restricted entry interval (REI) • Participate in employer information exchange

28. 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

29. 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

30. Questions? Peg Perreault 303 312-6286 perreault.peg@epa.gov Barbara Barron 303 312-6617 barron.barbara@epa.gov Jaslyn Dobrahner 303 312-6252 dobrahner.jaslyn@epa.gov US EPA 999 18th Street, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80202 1 800 227-8917