&EPA
October 2010
EPA 738-F-10-005
United States
Environmental Protection
Soil Fumigant Mitigation Factsheet:
Worker Protection Measures
EPA is requiring important new safety measures for soil fumigant pesticides to increase protections for
agricultural workers and bystanders ~ people who live, work, or otherwise spend time near fields that are
fumigated. These measures are for the soil fumigants chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/potassium,
and methyl bromide.
This fact sheet summarizes new requirements to protect fumigant handlers and other workers from
fumigant exposures. When new fumigant labels appear in the market place in 2010, fumigant users will
need to comply with these new requirements.
Handler activities on
labels
On-site supervision and
training
To address risks to fumigant handlers and workers, EPA is requiring:
A clear description of handler activities on labels
All persons performing fumigant-handler activities must be trained and
equipped as handlers in accordance with the requirements in the WPS (40 CFR
Part 170). Handler activities include:
• Participating in the application as supervisors, loaders, drivers, tractor
co-pilots, shovelers, cross ditchers, or as other direct application
participants (note: the application starts when the fumigant is first
introduced into the soil and ends after the fumigant has stopped being
delivered/dispensed to the soil);
• Monitoring fumigant air concentrations;
• Cleaning up fumigant spills (this does not include emergency
personnel not associated with the fumigation application);
• Handling or disposing of fumigant containers;
• Cleaning, handling, adjusting, or repairing the parts of fumigation
equipment that may contain fumigant residues;
• Installing, repairing, operating, or removing irrigation equipment in
the application block or surrounding buffer zone during the buffer zone
period;
• Entering the application site or surrounding buffer zone during the
buffer zone period to perform scouting or crop advising tasks;
• Installing, perforating (cutting, punching, slicing, poking), removing,
repairing, or monitoring tarps:
o until 14 days after application is complete if tarps are not
perforated and removed during those 14 days, or
o until tarp removal is complete if tarps are both perforated and
removed less than 14 days after application; or
o until 48 hours after tarp perforation is complete if tarps will be
perforated but not removed within 14 days after application.
On-site supervision and training
• Direct, on-site supervision by certified applicators during most
fumigant applications
• New training provided by registrants for certified applicators who
supervise fumigant applications
• New training information for other handlers.
Soil Fumigant Mitigation: Worker Protection Measures
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Respiratory protection Respiratory protection requirements
requirements • Handlers must either stop work and leave the area or use air-purifying
respirators if they experience sensory irritation (this does not apply to
formulations with less than 20% chloropicrin)
• For methyl bromide formulations with less than 20% chloropicrin.
handlers must wear air-purifying respirators during handling activities
• Air monitoring while handlers use respirators to ensure concentrations
do not exceed the upper working limit of respirators
• All handlers who will wear a respirator must be fit-tested, trained, and
medically examined to ensure they do not have health problems such
as a heart condition that could make use of a respirator dangerous
• An air purifying respirator with the appropriate cartridges must be
available for each handler who will wear a respirator.
Tarp perforation and Tarp perforation and removal requirements
removal requirements • If tarps are used, they may not be perforated until at least 5 days (120
hours) have elapsed after the fumigation is complete unless a weather
condition exists that necessitates early removal
• Tarp removal may not begin until at least 2 hours after tarp perforation
is complete and tarp removers must follow respiratory protection
requirements
o For methyl bromide, air monitoring with direct-read
instruments is required before tarp removal can begin
• If tarps are not removed, planting may not begin until at least 48 hours
after tarp perforation is complete
• If tarps are left on the soil for at least 14 days after the fumigation is
complete, planting may begin when the tarps are being perforated
• Tarps must be perforated using mechanical methods (e.g., all-terrain
vehicles with cutting implements) except for small areas (less than 1
acre), at the start of a row, and during flood prevention activities.
Entry-restricted period Entry-restricted period requirements
requirements • Entry into treated fields (including early entry that would otherwise
be permitted under the WPS) by any person other than a trained and
equipped handler is prohibited from the start of the application until
o 5 days (120 hours) after application has ended for untarped
applications, or
o After tarps are perforated and removed if tarp removal is
completed less than 14 days after application, or
o 48 hours after tarps are perforated if they will not be removed
at least 14 days after the application, or
o 5 days (120 hours) after application is complete if tarps are
not perforated and removed 14 days after the application is
complete.
Soil Fumigant Mitigation: Worker Protection Measures
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Entry Restricted Period by Scenario
If the application
is[ ]
1.
2.
3.
4.
Untarped
Tarped
Tarped
Tarped
and Tarp is
r i
Perforated and
Removed
Perforated BUT
NOT Removed
Perforated and/or
Removed
T 1 days after
application is
completed
Within 14 days
Within 14 days
More than 14 days
workers may
enter [ 1
5 days after application is
complete
After tarp is removed
48 hours after
perforating tarps
5 days after application is
complete
For additional information, please see EPA's Web page on risk mitigation measures
for the soil fumigants, http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/soil_fumigants/.
Soil Fumigant Mitigation: Worker Protection Measures
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