&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Washington, DC 20460 EPA 305-F-98-030 September 1998 vwwv.epa.gov A r^—^yimii nijn-^ Ag Center Helping Agriculture Comply with Environmental Requirements FOCUS O N Monitoring and Special Instructions for Pesticide Handlers The Agricultural Worker Protection Standan Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 an used in the production of agricultural plants WPS requires you to take steps to reduce the • use such pesticides, or (2) employ workers or pesticides. (WPS) is a regulation issued by the U.S. d amended in 1995. It covers pesticides that are farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses. The isk of pesticide-related illness and injury if you (1) Pesticide handlers who are exposed to such This fact sheet will help you understand how i monitoring pesticide handlers and for informir ,g are using. Monitoring handlers At least once every 2 hours, someone must check on—by sight or by voice communication—any handler who is handling a pesticide that has a skull and crossbones symbol on its label. (For monitoring the handling of fumigants in greenhouses, see immediately below.) o comply with the WPS requirements for handlers about the pesticides and equipment they Someone must maintain constant visual or voice contact with any handler who is applying or otherwise handling a fumigant in a greenhouse. This includes handlers who enter the greenhouse during fumigation to operate ventilation systems, adjust tarps or other coverings used in the fumigation, or check air concentration levels. The person monitoring the fumigant handler must: ------- You must also provide handlers access to the pesticide labeling information during handling tasks. be trained as a pesticide handler, and have immediate access to the PPE that the fumigant labeling requires for applicators. Labeling information You must inform your handler- employees, in a manner they can understand, about all labeling requirements related to safe use of the pesticide, including at least: the signal word, human hazard statements and precautions, personal protective equipment requirements, first aid instructions, environmental precautions, and any additional precautions about the handling task to be performed. Option: You may allow handlers to read the labeling themselves, if they are able to read and understand it. Safe operation of equipment You must make sure that your handler- employees know how to safely and correctly use all equipment they are assigned to use for handling pesticides, including, if applicable, how to avoid drift and how to use chemigation equipment safely. 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." The Ag Center welcomes comments on this document and its other services. National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center 901 N. 5th Street Kansas City, KS 6610 1 Toll-free: Internet: Fax: 1-888-663-2155 www.epa.gov/agriculture 913-551-7270 United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20460 Ag Center Fact Sheet Series Agrichemicals/WPS - Handler Monitoring/Instructions Page 2 ------- |