The ABC's of the Worker Protection Standard
You must comply with the Worker Protection standard if:
- If you own, operate or are employed on any farm, forest, nursery or greenhouse where pesticides are used in the production of agricultural plants
- You hire or provide employees for any agricultural business which uses pesticides; or
- You or anyone who you employ is a certified/licensed crop advisor
Family Exemptions
- Even if you covered by the family exemption you must still:
- Use the required personal protective equipment (P.P.E.)
- Prevent pesticide contact (directly or through drift) during application
- Ensuring that you or anyone else not correctly trained and equipped is kept out of areas being treated with pesticides
- Maintain Restricted Entry Intervals (R.E.I.s)
- Maintain no-contact Early Entry
- Maintain short-term agricultural emergency or specially excepted early entry with proper P.P.E.
The Worker Protection Standard has three main parts:
Information:
- Providing safety training for both handlers and workers
- Providing the E.P.A. approved safety poster
- Access to labeling information for handlers and early-entry workers
- Access to the Central Information Location
Protection:
- Prohibit handlers from applying a pesticide that will expose workers or other persons
- Exclude workers from areas being treated with pesticides
- Exclude workers from areas under a restricted Entry Interval
- Equip early entry workers with proper safety training and personal protective equipment
- Notify workers of where applications have or are taking place
- Protect handlers during handling tasks
Mitigation:
- Providing decontamination supplies of water, soap, single use towels and spare overalls
- Providing emergency transportation to the hospital for employees that had been exposed to pesticides