The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a federal regulation issued by U.S.EPA. The WPS applies to growers who own or manage a farm, forest, nursery, or greenhouse where pesticides are used in production of agriculture plants and have one or more of these situation:
- Hire or contract for services of agricultural workers who:
- Receives compensation and
- Do tasks such as harvesting, weeding, or watering
- Operate a business or farm where pesticides are applied by handlers who:
- Receives compensation
- Do tasks related to mixing, loading, transferring, or applying pesticides. Click HERE for complete list of handlers tasks.
- Operate a business where crop advisor tasks are performed. Click HERE for a complete list of crop advisor tasks.
- WPS Fact Sheets
- U.S. EPA Website
- Spanish Resources
- Find WPS Products
- WPS Central Information and Pesticide Recordkeeping Requirement for Pesticide Private Applicators (pdf file)
- WPS Inspection Checklist (pdf file) - Checklist of WPS provisions that may be subject to inspection
- WPS Quick Reference Guide - Two page overview of the regulation
- Worker Protection Standard - Website of the U.S. EPA
- Norma de Proteccion para el Trabajador - web site de los E.E.U.U. EPA
- Spanish for Greenhouse Supervisors - Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 900. Includes CD-Rom with Spanish pronunciation. Available at your county OSU Extension Office.
- IPM program at University of California - Davis has a website listing various Spanish factsheets on IPM and pesticide safety.
- Gempler's Inc.
- Source of signs, worker training books, field postings, central postings, etc. At the Gempler's website, select the tab for "safety" and scroll down to "WPS"
Pesticide Handlers:
- mixing, loading, transferring, or applying pesticides
- handling opened containers of pesticides,
- acting as a flagger,
- cleaning, handling, adjusting, or repairing the parts of mixing, loading, or application equipment that may contain pesticide residues,
- assisting with the application of pesticides, including incorporating the pesticide into the soil after the application has occurred,
- entering a greenhouse or other enclosed area after application and before the inhalation exposure level listed on the product labeling has been reached or one of the WPS ventilation criteria have been met to:
- operate ventilation equipment,
- adjust or remove coverings, such as tarps, used in fumigation, or
- check air concentration levels,
- entering a treated area outdoors after application of any soil fumigant to adjust or remove soil coverings, such as tarpaulins,
- performing tasks as a crop advisor:
- during any pesticide application,
- before any inhalation exposure level or ventilation criteria listed in the labeling has been reached or one of the WPS ventilation criteria has been met,
- disposing of pesticides or pesticide containers.
- Any person who is assessing pest numbers or damage, pesticide distribution, or the status, condition, or requirements of agricultural plants. The term does not include any person who is performing hand labor tasks, such as weeding, planting, cultivating, or harvesting. Examples of crop advisors are crop consultants, scouts, and integrated pest management monitors.
