Click on to these sites to see information that may be helpful as you prepare to re-train Agricultural Workers and Pesticide Handlers according to WPS.

• Basic Elements
  In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued final regulations governing the protection of employees on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses from occupational exposures to agricultural pesticides. The Worker Protection Standard covers both workers in areas treated with pesticides, and employees who handle (mix, load, apply, etc.) pesticides.

  EPA's previous regulations were inadequate to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers who are occupationally exposed to pesticides. The revised regulations have exposure reduction measures that will reduce the risk of pesticide poisonings and injuries among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers.

  SUMMARY OF WPS REQUIREMENTS

  Protection during applications
  

  Handlers are prohibited from applying a pesticide in a way that will expose workers or other persons; workers are excluded from areas during treatment with pesticides.
  

  Restricted-entry intervals (REIs)
  REIs are established for all pesticides used in the production of agricultural plants, ranging from 12 to 72 hours, depending on toxicity. Workers are excluded from areas under an REI, with only narrow exceptions.
  

  Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  PPE must be provided and maintained for handlers and early-entry workers.
  

  Notification of workers
  Workers must be notified about treated areas so they may avoid inadvertent exposures.
  

  Decontamination supplies
  Handlers and workers must have an ample supply of water, soap, and towels for routine washing and emergency decontamination.
  

  Emergency assistance
  Transportation must be made available to a medical care facility if a worker or handler may have been poisoned or injured.
  Information must be provided about the pesticide to which the person may have exposed.
  

  Pesticide safety training and safety posters
  Training is required for all workers and handlers, and a pesticide safety poster must be displayed.
  

  Access to labeling and site specific information
  Handlers and workers must be informed of pesticide label requirements and information. Central posting of recent pesticide applications made on the agricultural establishment is required.

• The Worker Protection Standard and Recent Amendments
  40 CFR Part 170
  Links from the EPA web site to WPS law and commentary
  

• The EPA Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides
  How to Comply
  This is a scanned copy of the EPA 1992 WPS, modified for presentation on the Web. Clickable links were added for ease in use. Every effort has been made to provide the exact wording of the EPA document, but the production of an identical copy is not possible. This document is provided general reference only. Please refer to the printed document from EPA for the actual legal guidelines.
  

• GEMPLER'S WPS Reference Guide
  How to Comply
  Includes complete official version of EPA's "How to Comply Manual" for employers plus technical information on pesticide safety, as well as a complete product guide for safety equipment and signage required for WPS compliance. 156 pages. Contains up-to-date addendum of WPS changes. Item No. EPA6 ($5.05) Go to Gempler’s Catalog to order.
  

• PESTICIDE WORKER PROTECTION PROGRAMS
  VERIFICATION CARD ISSUANCE RECORD
  First you have to decide how your workers should be trained - - - as Agricultural Workers or as Pesticide Handlers. The EPA Worker Protection Standard Training Worker Verification Card is blue
  and the EPA Worker Protection Standard Training Handler Verification Card is green
  . . . These verification cards must be requested from TDA prior to training - so be sure to plan ahead.
  

• Federal Worker Protection Standards
  Pesticide Handler/Agricultural Worker Training List
  A list of all workers and handlers trained through WPS and a record of the card issued must be maintained by the person issuing the card for five (5) year after the issuance of the cards. EPA or TDA (or other State Departments of Agriculture) may call to verify training of an individual and you must have your training records to answer.
  

• GEMPLER'S Catalog - click on Safety then on WPS
  This 400 page catalog contains 7 pages of supplies to help you with Worker Protection Standard Education, Training, and Compliance. You do not need everything listed but they do have just about everything that you might need to do the training well. Training must be completed and verification cards issued before workers and handlers can work in a treated field that is within 30 days of the completion of a REI (Restricted Entry Interval). Gempler's can also be reached by phone: 800-382-8473 or FAX 800-551-1128.

• e-mail me
  If you know of additional sources of supplies to help with Worker Protection Standard Education, Training, and Compliance, please let me know and I will add more sources to this resource page
  

• TDA News Release from September 13, 1999
  This statement was released to the press to alert all interested parties of the need to re-train Agricultural Workers and Pesticide Handlers under WPS every five years. Since many workers and handlers were initially trained by January of 1995 many of these workers will need to be re-trained this year.

• EPA changes in 1997
  In 1997, Epa made some modifications to the WPS to aid compliance. This article summarizes these modifications and explains how to comply.

• Criteria for training Agricultural Workers and Pesticide Handlers.

• Questions & Answers
  Many common questions have already been answered by EPA and may be found at this site.
  

• Questions & Answers not found above
  If you have a Question about Worker Protection Standard Education, Training, and Compliance, please let me know and I will find an answer or reference for you as quickly as possible.
  

• Iowa Worker Protection Standard Resources
  Check this site for basics and a variety of publications
  
   
  
   
  

• For more information consult - The National Ag Safety Database - at
  http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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