21
Understanding the Revised Worker Protection Standard What Growers and their employees need to know
Understanding the Revised Worker Protection Standard
What Growers and their employees need to know
• This presentation is an overview only and does not fully address all the requirements of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS).
• Details on total compliance can be found in US EPA’s How to Comply Manual which can be downloaded free from the OISC website at www.oisc.purdue.edu/pesticide
• Click on Alerts
You are covered by the WPS if you
• Produce an agricultural plant on a – Farm– Forest– Nursery or in an– Enclosed space (such as a greenhouse) AND
• You use a pesticide with WPS language on the label
Uses NOT covered under WPS include
• Pasture or rangeland• Livestock and their premise• Rodent control if not related to crop
production• Harvested portion of crops (such as grain)• Mosquito abatement• Right-of-way (such as ditch bank weed
control)
Who does the WPS protect?
• Workers – perform hand labor tasks such as harvesting, weeding or pruning in a pesticide treated area within 30 days after an application
• Handlers – must be at least 18 years old and mix, load or apply a pesticide or work on pesticide application equipment
Who is partially exempt from WPS?
• Majority of the establishment (more than 50%) is owned by one or more members of the same immediate family
• Then the immediate family is exempt from:– Pesticide safety training– Notice of applications– Records of applications and posting of SDS– Emergency assistance– Decontamination supplies
How is immediate family defined?
• Spouse, parents, stepparents, foster parents, father-in-law, mother-in-law, children, stepchildren, foster children, sons-in-law, daughter’s-in-law, grandparents, brothers, sisters, brother’s-in-law, sister’s-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and first cousins
What is NOT exempt?
• Owners and immediate family must still follow all specific pesticide label instructions.
• Before applying any product that requires a respirator the applicator must:– Obtain a medical evaluation– Be trained in the correct use and upkeep of the
respirator– Be fit tested for the proper respirator
What is NOT exempt
• Must keep records for two years of the– Medical evaluation– Training and upkeep– Fit testing
• If all members of the audience employ ONLY immediate family you may STOP here.
• Otherwise proceed with the rest of the presentation
Grower responsibilities for employees
• Pesticide safety training• Safety, application and hazard information• Notice about applications• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)• Decontamination supplies• Emergency assistance• Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ)• Additional requirements
Pesticide safety training
• Workers trained before entering a pesticide treated area
• Handlers trained before any handling task• W & H receive yearly training• Grower keep record of training for two years• Training ONLY with EPA approved materials• Trainer present during entire training• Training in language W or H can understand
Who can train?
• Certified commercial applicator• Private applicator• Graduate of Train the Trainer course• Expanded training content in January 2018
Safety, application & hazard information
• Must be displayed if an application within 30 days and workers and/or handlers are present
• Pesticide safety poster (new January 2018)• Safety Data Sheets(SDS)• Record of applications must include:
– Location and description of treated area– Product name, EPA Reg.# and active ingredient(s)– Restricted Entry Interval (REI)– Time (including start and end time) & date of app
• Records kept for two years
Notice about applications
• Orally warn workers and post warning signs if required by the label (double notification)
• If double notification NOT required then post warning signs if the REI is greater than– 4 hours for enclosed spaces (greenhouses)– 48 hours for outdoor production
• For all other applications, EITHER orally warn workers OR post warning signs
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Employers must provide the PPE on the label• For WPS, long-sleeved shirt, short sleeved shirt,
long pants, short pants, shoes and socks are considered standard attire and DO NOT have to be provided by the employer
• Remember respirators have special requirements including:– Medical evaluation– Training on use and upkeep– Fit testing– Records for two years
Decontamination supplies
• Supplies within ¼ mile of worksite• Plenty of soap and single use towels for W & H• One gallon of water per worker• Three gallons of water per handler• Change of clothes for handler• For products that require eye protection or if the
handler is mixing or loading using a closed operating system under pressure– 1 pint immediately available– Extra three gallons available for continuous eye flush
Emergency assistance
• If there is reason to believe a worker or handler has been exposed to a pesticide– Transport promptly to a medical facility– Promptly provide to medical personnel
• Product name, EPA Reg.# and active ingredient(s)• How pesticide was being used• Circumstances of exposure• SDS
The Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ)
• The AEZ is a zone or area surrounding pesticide application equipment that exists ONLY during outdoor applications
• Intent is to insure no unprotected persons will be drifted on
• Grower must not allow workers or other unprotected persons in the AEZ
• Applicator to suspend if anyone in AEZ• Same as old site-awareness
Additional requirements
• Ag dealers will inform growers about apps incl– Location of field to be treated– Date of app including start and end time– Product name, EPA Reg.#, REI and active
ingredient(s)– Oral, posted warnings or both– Any other safety requirements on the label
Questions?
• Joe Becovitz---Pesticide Program Specialist– 765-494-1589 or [email protected]
• Leo Reed---Manager of Certification & Licensing– 765-494-1588 or [email protected]
