UNIT 1 and APPENDIX C
Quick Reference Guide to the 1992 Worker Protection Standard

The EPA Publication has two Quick Reference Guide Sections, one at the beginning with page numbers and Appendix C, in larger print. Because of the link abilities and formating differences afforded by Mosaic, only the Quick Reference Guide from Appendix C (presented here) is provided.


The WPS is a Federal regulation designed to protect agricutural workers (people involved in the production of agricultural plants) and pesticide handlers (people mixing, loading, or applying pesticides or doing other tasks involving direct contact with pesticides) (see Who Does the WPS Protect?). This guide presents the maximum WPS requirements. It does not include exceptions that may permit you to do less or options that may involve different requirements. You will be in compliance with the Federal WPS if you make sure that the requirements listed here are met. Each section lists pages in this manual where you can find out about exceptions and options. For more information about your responsibilities, read Does the Worker Protection Standard Apply to You? to the end of Unit 2. There are some exemptions for owners of agricultural establishments and members of their immediate family.

DUTIES FOR ALL EMPLOYERS

 Anti-Retaliation
Do not retaliate against a worker or handler who attempts to comply with the WPS.

Information at a Central Location

  1. In an easily seen central location on each agricultural establishment, display close together:
  2. Tell workers and handlers where the information is posted, and allow them access.
  3. Tell them if emergency facility information changes and update the posted information.
  4. Keep the posted information legible.
Pesticide Safety Training
Unless they possess a valid EPA-approved training card, train handlers and workers before they begin work and at least once each 5 vears: Decontamination Sites
  1. Establish a decontamination site within 1/4 mile of all workers and handlers. Supply:
  2. Provide water that is safe and cool enough for washing, for eyeflushing, and for drinking. Do not use tank-stored water that is also used for mixing pesticides.
  3. Provide handlers the same supplies where personal protective equipment (PPE) is removed at the end of a task.
  4. Provide the same supplies at each mixing and loading site.
  5. Make at least 1 pint eyeflush water immediately accessible to each handler.
  6. Do not put worker decontamination sites in areas being treated or under an REI.
  7. In areas being treated, put decontamination supplies for handlers in enclosed containers.
Employer Information Exchange
  1. Before any application, commercial handler employers must make sure the operator of the agricultural establishment where a pesticide will be applied is aware of.
  2. Operators of agricultural establishments must make sure any commercial pesticide establishment operator they hire is aware of:
Emergency Assistance
When any handler or worker may have been poisoned or injured by pesticides:
  1. Promptly make transportation available to an appropriate medical facility.
  2. Promptly provide to the victim and to medical personnel:

ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR WORKER EMPLOYERS

 Restrictions During Applications
  1. In areas being treated with pesticides, allow entry only to appropriately trained and equipped handlers.
  2. Keep nursery workers at least 100 feet away from nursery areas being treated.
  3. Allow only handlers to be in a greenhouse:
(Also see greenhouse restrictions.)

Restricted-Entry Intervals (REI's)
During any REI, do not allow workers to enter a treated area and contact anything treated with the pesticide to which the REI applies.

(Also see early entry by workers and early entry work situations.)

Notice About Applications

  1. Orally warn workers and post treated areas if the pesticide labeling requires.
  2. Otherwise, either orally warn workers or post entrances to treated areas. Tell workers which method is in effect.
  3. Post all greenhouse applications.
Posted Warning Signs:
  1. Post legible 14" X 16" WPS- design signs just before application; keep posted during REI; remove before workers enter and within 3 days after the end of the REI.
  2. Post signs so they can be seen at all entrances to treated areas, including entrances from labor camps.
Oral Warnings:
  1. Before each application, tell workers who are on the establishment (in a manner they can understand):
  2. Workers who enter the establishment after application starts must receive the same warning at the start of their work period.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR HANDLER EMPLOYERS

Application Restrictions and Monitoring
  1. Do not allow handlers to apply a pesticide so that it contacts, directly or through drift, anyone other than trained and PPE-equipped handlers.
  2. Make sight or voice contact at least every 2 hours with anyone handling pesticides labeled with a skull and crossbones.
  3. Make sure a trained handler equipped with labeling-specified PPE maintains constant voice or visual contact with any handler in a greenhouse who is doing fumigant-related tasks, such as application or air-level monitoring.
Specific Instructions for Handlers
  1. Before handlers do any handling task, inform them, in a manner they can understand,of all pesticide labeling instructions for safe use.
  2. Keep pesticide labeling accessible to each handler during entire handling task.
  3. Before handlers use any assigned handling equipment, tell them how to use it safely.
  4. When commercial handlers will be on an agricultural establishment, inform them beforehand of:
(The agricultural establishment operator must give you these facts.)

Equipment Safety

  1. Inspect pesticide handling equipment before each use, and repair or replace as needed.
  2. Allow only appropriately trained and equipped handlers to repair, clean, or adjust pesticide equipment that contains pesticides or residues.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
(See exceptions to PPE)

Duties Related to PPE:

  1. Provide handlers with the PPE the pesticide labeling requires for the task, and be sure it is:
  2. Be sure respirators fit correctly.
  3. Take steps to avoid heat illness.
  4. Provide handlers a pesticide-free area for:
  5. Do not allow used PPE to be worn home or taken home.
Care of PPE:
  1. Store and wash used PPE separately from other cloth- ing and laundry.
  2. If PPE will be reused, clean it before each day of reuse, according to the instructions from the PPE manufacturer unless the pesticide labeling specifies other requirements. If there are no other instructions, wash in detergent and hot water.
  3. Dry the clean PPE before storing, or hang to dry.
  4. Store clean PPE away from other clothing and away from pesticide areas.
Replacing Respirator Purifying Elements:

  1. Replace dust/mist filters:
  2. Replace vapor-removing cartridges/canisters:
Disposal of PPE:
  1. Discard coveralls and other absorbent materials that are heavily contaminated with undiluted pesticide having a DANGER or WARNING signal word.
  2. Follow Federal, State, and local laws when disposing of PPE that cannot be cleaned correctly.
Instructions for People Who Clean PPE:
Inform people who clean or launder PPE:

Forward to Unit 2
Back to Table of Contents
CONTENTS, or to the INDEX for a quick retrieval of information.

How To Comply

What Employers Need To Know


Who Needs To Read This Manual?

You probably need to comply with the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) if you are a Most WPS provisions are protections that you as an employer must provide to your own employees and, in some instances, to yourself. The WPS covers two types of employers, which are defined according to the type of work performed by their employees:

Worker Employers

If you hire or contract for people to do agricultural worker tasks, or if you do them yourself, the WPS considers you a worker employer. In general, agricultural workers are persons who (1) do hand labor tasks, such as weeding, planting, cultivating, and harvesting, or (2) do other tasks involved in the production of agricultural plants, such as moving or operating irrigation equipment (complete definition). Units 3 and 4 of this manual describe the WPS protections you must provide to the agricultural workers you employ.

Handler Employers

If you hire people to do pesticide handling tasks, or if you do them yourself, the WPS considers you a handler employer. In general, pesticide handlers are persons who mix, load, apply, or do other tasks that bring them into direct contact with pesticides (see p. 14-15 for complete definition). You must provide WPS protections to all your pesticide handler employees, whether or not they are certified as applicators of restricted-use pesticides. Units 3 and 5 of this manual describe the WPS protections you must provide to the pesticide handlers you employ.
  • The same employee may be a worker at some times and a handler at other times, depending on the type of task being performed.
  • You may be both a handler employer and a worker employer, depending on the tasks that you and your employees do.
  • Both general-use pesticides and restricted-use pesticides are covered by the WPS.

    About This Manual

    This "How To Comply" manual will Important definitions and other special explanations are enclosed in shaded boxes. Reading them will help you better understand the WPS requirements and how they apply to you.

    For more information

    Region 1 (MA, CT, RI, NH, VI, ME)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1
    Pesticides and Toxic Substances Branch (APT)
    1 Congress St.
    Boston, MA 02203
    (617) 565-3273

    Region 2 (NY, NJ, PR, VI)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2
    Pesticides and Toxic Substances Branch (MS-105)
    2890 Woodgridge Ave., Building #10
    Edison, NJ 08837-3679
    (908) 321-6765

    Region 3 (PA, MD, VA, WV, DE)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3
    Toxics and Pesticides Branch (3AT-30)
    841 Chestnut Building
    Philadelphia, PA 19107
    (215) 597-8598

    Region 4 (GA, NC, SC, AL, MS, KY, FL, TN)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4
    Pesticides & Toxic Substances Branch (4-APT-MD)
    345 Courtland St., N.E.
    Atlanta, GA 30365
    (404) 347-5201

    Region 5 (IL, MI, MN, IN, OH, WI)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
    Pesticides and Toxic Substances Branch (5SPT)
    77 W. Jackson Blvd.
    Chicago, IL 60604
    (312) 886-6006

    Region 6 (TX, OK, AR, LA, NM)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
    Pesticides and Toxics Branch (6T-P)
    1445 Ross Ave.
    Dallas, TX 75202-2733
    (214) 655-7235

    Region 7 (MO, KS, IA, NB)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
    Toxics and Pesticides Branch (TOPE),
    726 Minnesota Ave.
    Kansas City, KS 66101
    (913) 551-7020

    Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
    Toxic Substances Branch (8ART-TS)
    One Denver Place, Suite 500
    999 18th St.
    Denver, CO 80202-2405
    (303) 293-1730

    Region 9 (CA, NV, AZ, HI, GU)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
    Pesticides and Toxics Branch (A4)
    75 Hawthorne St.
    San Francisco, CA 94105
    (415) 744-1090

    Region 1O (WA, OR, ID, AK)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10
    Pesticides and Toxic Substances Branch (AT-083)
    1200 Sixth Ave.
    Seattle, WA 98191
    (206) 553-1918


    Contents

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