&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Enforcement
& Compliance Assurance
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 305-F-98-031
September 1998
vwwv.epa.gov
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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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