&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Enforcement
& Compliance Assurance
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 305-F-98-031
September 1998
vwwv.epa.gov
                                                               A          r^—^yimii nijn-^
                                                            Ag Center
                                                                    Helping Agriculture Comply with
                                                                    Environmental Requirements
             FOCUS
          O N
                     Does  the  WPS  Require
                     Growers To  Protect
                     Themselves?
                     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
                     yourself and your immediate family. The que
                     by people seeking clarification on this part of t
                     released by EPA's Office of Compliance on A

                     Are small  agricultural
                     establishments exempted from
                     compliance with the Worker
                     Protection Standard?
                     No. Except for a partial exemption for
                     owners and their immediate families
                     (immediate family includes only spouse,
                     children, stepchildren, foster children,
                    t parents, stepparents, foster parents,
                                  o comply with WPS requirements for protecting
                                  ?tions answered here were submitted to the Agency
                                  \e regulation. The questions and answers were
                                  iarchlS, 1995.

                                      brothers, and sisters), all agricultural
                                      establishments that use pesticides that
                                      have WPS labeling must comply with
                                      the Standard when using those products
                                      for uses within the scope of the WPS.

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 Those who qualify
 as "agricultural
 owners" are exempt
 from some WPS
 provisions.
The Ag Center
welcomes comments
on this document and
its other services.
The definition of a "worker"
includes a self-employed
person.  Does this mean that
growers are required to comply
with all provisions where they
are not specifically exempt?
In general, self-employed people who
perform worker activities must provide
themselves with the protections required
for workers.  However, if they qualify for
the agricultural owner exemption, they
are  exempt from some provisions.

Are growers (owners)
personally subject to the REI
provisions, entry restrictions,
and PPE requirements for
early-entry activities?
Yes, growers (owners)  are personally
subject to the Restricted Entry Interval
(REI) provisions, entry restrictions, and
PPE requirements for early entry, when
using a product referencing the WPS.
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
                         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."
                         Ag Center Fact Sheet Series
                         Agrichemicals/WPS - Requirements for Growers/Family
                                                                         Page 2

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