&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Enforcement
& Compliance Assurance
Washington, DC 2046
EPA 305-F-98-029
September 1998
vwwv.epa.gov
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                                                                   Ag Center
                                                                            Helping Agriculture Comply with
                                                                            Environmental Requirements
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           O  N
                        Definition  of  Pesticide  Handler

                       The Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a regulation issued by the U.S.
                       Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 and amended in 1995. It covers pesticides that are
                       used in the production of agricultural plants on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses. The
                       WPS requires you to take steps to reduce the risk of pesticide-related illness and injury if you (1)
                       use such pesticides, or (2) employ workers or
                       pesticides.
                                      pesticide handlers who are exposed to such
                       By explaining what types of workers are consi
                       fact sheet will help you understand who you rtyust


                       Who is a handler?
                       A pesticide handler is anyone who:
                       (1) is employed (including self-
                       employed) for any type of compensation
                       by an agricultural establishment or a
                       commercial pesticide handling
                       establishment that uses pesticides in the
                       production of agricultural plants on  a
                       farm, forest, nursery, or greenhouse, and
                       (2) is doing any of the following tasks:
                           mixing, loading, transferring, or
                           applying pesticides,
                                     lered "pesticide handlers" under this regulation, this
                                        legally provide protections for.

                                              handling opened containers of
                                              pesticides,
                                              acting as a flagger,
                                              cleaning, handling, adjusting, or
                                              repairing the parts of mixing,
                                              loading, or application equipment
                                              that may contain pesticide residues,
                                              assisting with the application of
                                              pesticides, including incorporating
                                              the pesticide into the soil after the
                                              application has occurred,

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Handling tasks
include many more
activities than just
mixing, loading,
and applying
pesticides.
    entering a greenhouse or other
    enclosed area after application and
    before the inhalation exposure level
    listed on the product labeling has
    been reached or one of the WPS
    ventilation criteria has been met to:
    —   operate ventilation equipment,
    —   adjust or remove coverings, such
        as tarps, used in fumigation, or
    —   check air concentration levels,
    entering a treated area outdoors
    after application of any soil fumigant
    to adjust or remove soil coverings,
    such as tarpaulins,
    performing tasks as a crop advisor:
    —   during any pesticide application,
    —   before any inhalation exposure
        level or ventilation criteria listed
        in the labeling  has been reached
        or one of the WPS ventilation
        criteria has been met,
    —   during any restricted-entry
        interval,
    disposing of pesticides or pesticide
    containers.


Who is not a handler?
A person is NOT a handler if he or she
only handles pesticide containers that
have been emptied or cleaned according
to instructions on pesticide product
labeling or, if the labeling has no such
instructions, have been triple-rinsed or
cleaned by an equivalent method, such
as pressure rinsing.
A person is NOT a handler if he or she
(1) is ONLY handling pesticide
containers that are unopened AND (2)
is NOT, at the same time, also doing any
handling task  (such as mixing or
loading).


Examples:
    You ARE  a handler if you are
    loading unopened water-soluble
    packets into a mixing tank (because
    you are mixing and loading the
    pesticide).
    You are NOT a handler if you:
    —   purchase pesticides and
        transport them unopened to an
        establishment.
    —   carry unopened containers into
        a pesticide storage facility.
    —   transport unopened containers
        to the site where they are to be
        mixed, loaded, or applied.


Certified applicators
Handlers who are currently certified as
applicators of restricted-use pesticides
must be given all of the WPS handler
protections, except that they need not
receive WPS training.
                          Ag Center Fact Sheet Series
                          Agrichemicals/WPS - Pesticide Handler Definition
                                                                               Page 2

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  Agrichemicals
The Ag Center
welcomes comments
on this document and
its other services.
For more information
You can get more facts about
compliance by calling the Ag Center's
toll-free number. Materials can be sent
to you by fax or mail, or you can talk to
an Ag Center representative. For a list
of all publications available from the Ag
Center, request document number
10001, "Ag Center Publications."
                            National Agriculture Compliance
                            Assistance Center
                            901  N. 5th Street
                            Kansas City, KS 6610 1

                            Toll-free:    1-888-663-2155
                            Internet:   www.epa.gov/agriculture
                            Fax:       913-551-7270
                                    United States Environmental
                                    protection Agency
                                    Washington, DC 20460
                          Ag Center Fact Sheet Series
                                                                            Page 3

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