ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR HANDLER
EMPLOYERS (cont)
2. Keep pesticide labeling accessible to each handler during
entire handling task.
3. Before handlers use any assigned handling equipment, tell
them how to use it safely.
4. When commercial handlers will be on an agricultural
establishment, inform them beforehand of:
• areas on the establishment where pesticides will be
applied or where an REI will be in effect,
• restrictions on entering those areas.
(The agricultural establishment operator must give you these
facts.)
Equipment Safety
1. Inspect pesticide handling equipment before each use, and
repair or replace as needed.
2. Allow only appropriately trained and equipped handlers to
repair, clean, or adjust pesticide equipment that contains
pesticides or residues.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Duties Related to PPE
1. Provide handlers with the PPE the pesticide labeling
requires for the task, and be sure it is:
• clean and in operating condition,
• worn and used correctly,
• inspected before each day of use,
• repaired or replaced as needed.
2. Be sure respirators fit correctly.
3. Take steps to avoid heat illness.
4. Provide handlers a pesticide-free area for:
• storing personal clothing not in use,
• putting on PPE at start of task,
• taking off PPE at end of task.
5. Do not allow used PPE to be worn home or taken home.
Care of PPE
1. Store and wash used PPE separately from other clothing
and laundry.
2. If PPE will be reused, clean it before each day of reuse,
according to the instructions from the PPE manufacturer
unless the pesticide labeling specifies other requirements. If
there are no other instructions, wash in detergent and hot
water.
3. Dry the clean PPE before storing, or hang to dry.
4. Store clean PPE away from other clothing and away from
pesticide areas.
Replacing Respirator Purifying Elements
1. Replace dust/mist filters:
• when breathing becomes difficult,
• when filter is damaged or torn,
• when respirator label or pesticide label requires
(whichever is shorter), or
• at the end of day's work period, in the absence of any other
instructions or indications.
2. Replace vapor-removing cartridges/canisters:
• when odor/taste/irritation is noticed,
• when respirator label or pesticide label requires
(whichever is shorter), or
• at the end of day's work period, in the absence of any other
instructions or indications.
Disposal of PPE
1. Discard coveralls and other absorbent materials that are
heavily contaminated with undiluted pesticide having a
"DANGER" or "WARNING" signal word.
2. Follow federal, state, and local laws when disposing of PPE
that cannot be cleaned correctly.
Instructions for People Who Clean PPE
Inform people who clean or launder PPE:
• that PPE may be contaminated with pesticides,
• of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to pesticides,
• how to protect themselves when handling PPE,
• how to clean PPE correctly.
United Stales
Environmental Protection
Agency
Quick Reference Guide Web Links
EPA Worker Protection Standard Topic Page
http: //www. epa. go v/agriculture/twor.html
WPS Publications Page
http: //www. epa. go v/agriculture/awor.html
Revised (2005) HTC Manual
http: //www. epa. go v/agriculture/htc .html
For More Information
National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center
90IN. 5thStreet
Kansas City, KS 66101
Toll-free: 1-888-663-2155
Internet: www.epa.gov/agriculture
Fax: 913-551-7270
&EF&
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA 305-F-05-005
Ag Center #52216
November 2005
REFERENCE
^ GUIDED
2005 UPDATE
WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD (WPS)
INCLUDING ALL REVISIONS
THROUGH 2004
The Quick Reference Guide outlines what is necessary
for you to comply with the Worker Protection
Standard. The WPS is a federal regulation designed to
protect agricultural workers (people involved in the
production of agricultural plants) and pesticide
handlers (people mixing, loading, or applying
pesticides or doing other tasks involving direct contact
with pesticides). This guide presents the maximum
WPS requirements. It does not include exceptions that
may permit you to do less or options that may involve
different requirements. The revised (2005) How To
Comply With the Worker Protection Standard for
Agricultural Pesticides has more information about
your responsibilities, exceptions and options. There are
some exemptions for owners of agricultural
establishments and members of their immediate family.
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DUTIES FOR ALL EMPLOYERS
Anti-Retaliation
Do not retaliate against a worker or handler who attempts to
comply with the WPS
Information at a Central Location
1. In an easily seen central location on each agricultural
establishment, display close together:
• EPA WPS safety poster,
• name, address, and telephone number of the nearest
emergency medical facility,
• these facts about each pesticide application [from before
each application begins until 30 days after the restricted-
entry interval (REI)]:
- product name, EPA registration number, and active
ingredient(s),
- location and description of treated area,
- time and date of application, and REI.
2. Tell workers and handlers where the information is posted,
and allow them access.
3. Tell them if emergency facility information changes and
update the posted information.
4. Keep the posted information legible.
Pesticide Safety Training
Unless they possess a valid EPA-approved training card, train
handlers and workers before they begin work and at least
once each 5 years:
• use written and/or audiovisual materials,
• use EPA WPS handler training materials for training
handlers,
• use EPA WPS worker training materials for training
workers,
• have a certified applicator conduct the training orally
and/or audiovisually in a manner the employees can
understand, using easily understood terms, and respond
to questions.
Decontamination Supplies
1. Establish accessible decontamination supplies located
together within 1/4 mile of all workers and handlers. Supply:
• enough water for routine and emergency whole-body
washing and for eyeflushing,
• plenty of soap and single-use towels,
• a clean coverall.
2. Provide water that is safe and cool enough for washing, for
eyeflushing, and for drinking. Do not use tank-stored water
that is also used for mixing pesticides.
3. Provide handlers the same supplies where personal
protective equipment (PPE) is removed at the end of a task.
4. Provide the same supplies at each mixing and loading site.
5. Make at least 1 pint eyeflush water immediately accessible to
each handler.
6. Do not put worker decontamination supplies in areas being
treated or under an REI.
7. In areas being treated, put decontamination supplies for
handlers in enclosed containers.
Employer Information Exchange
1. Before any application, commercial handler employers must
make sure the operator of the agricultural establishment where a
pesticide will be applied is aware of:
• location and description of area to be treated,
• time and date of application,
• product name, EPA registration number, active
ingredient(s), and REI,
• whether the product label requires both oral warnings and
treated area posting,
• all other safety requirements on labeling for workers or
other people.
2. Operators of agricultural establishments must make sure any
commercial pesticide establishment operator they hire is aware of:
• specific location and description of all areas on the
agricultural establishment where pesticides will be applied
or where an REI will be in effect while the commercial
handler is on the establishment,
• restrictions on entering those areas.
Emergency Assistance
When any handler or worker may have been poisoned or injured
by pesticides:
1. Promptly make transportation available to an appropriate
medical facility.
2. Promptly provide to the victim and to medical personnel:
• product name, EPA registration number, and active
ingredient(s),
• all first aid and medical information from label,
• description of how the pesticide was used,
• information about victim's exposure.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR WORKER
EMPLOYERS
Restrictions During Applications
1. In areas being treated with pesticides, allow entry only to
appropriately trained and equipped handlers.
2. Keep nursery workers at least 100 feet away from nursery
areas being treated.
3. Allow only handlers to be in a greenhouse:
• during a pesticide application,
• until labeling-listed air concentration level is met or, if
no such level, until after 2 hours of ventilation with fans.
Restricted-Entry Intervals (REIs)
During any REI, do not allow workers to enter a treated area
and contact anything treated with the pesticide to which the
REI applies.
Notice About Applications
1. Orally warn workers and post treated areas if the pesticide
labeling requires.
2. Otherwise, either orally warn workers or post entrances to
treated areas. Tell workers which method is in effect.
3. Post all greenhouse applications.
Posted Warning Signs
1. Post legible 14" x 16" WPS-design signs just before
application; keep posted during REI; remove before workers
enter and within 3 days after the end of the REI.
2. Post signs so they can be seen at all entrances to treated
areas, including entrances from labor camps.
Oral Warnings
1. Before each application, tell workers who are on the
establishment (in a manner they can understand):
• location and description of treated area,
• REI, and not to enter during REI.
2. Workers who enter the establishment after application starts
must receive the same warning at the start of their work
period.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR HANDLER
EMPLOYERS
Application Restrictions and Monitoring
1. Do not allow handlers to apply a pesticide so that it
contacts, directly or through drift, anyone other than trained
and PPE-equipped handlers.
2. Make sight or voice contact at least every 2 hours with
anyone handling pesticides labeled with a skull and
crossbones.
3. Make sure a trained handler equipped with labeling -
specified PPE maintains constant voice or visual contact with
any handler in a greenhouse who is doing fumigant-related
tasks, such as application or air-level monitoring.
Specific Instructions for Handlers
1. Before handlers do any handling task, inform them, in a
manner they can understand, of all pesticide labeling
instructions for safe use.
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