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Pesticide Safety Education Program

Ohio State University Extension

CFAES

WPS

Worker Protection Standard

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 situations:

  1. Hire or contract for services of agricultural workers who receive compensation and do tasks such as harvesting, weeding, or watering.
  2. Operate a business or farm where pesticides are applied by handlers who receive compensation and do tasks related to mixing, loading, transferring, or applying pesticides. Click HERE for complete list of handlers tasks.
  3. Operate a business where crop advisor tasks are performed. Click HERE for a complete list of crop advisor tasks.

New! EPA has proposed changes for the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard. Click here to read "What is the Worker Protection Standard, and How has it Changed in 2016?"

Click here to view the EPA website on revisions the Worker Protection Standard.

 


Here is more information about the Worker Protection Standard


Spanish Resources


Find WPS Products

  • 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"


Worker Protection Standard Checklist

This checklist (on the backside) lists the major requirements of the Worker Protection Standard. Your responsibility as an employer depends on whether your farm is solely family owned and operated or whether you hire non‐family handlers and/or workers. These key points may not meet all compliance requirements. For complete instructions, you should consult the How‐To‐Comply manual, available from the U.S. EPA National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center.


Owners: Owners and their immediate family (parents, sisters, brothers, children, stepparents, and stepchildren) are exempt from many of the provisions of the WPS. However, owners are encouraged to give all WPS protections to themselves and their families.

Handlers: Persons mixing, loading, or applying pesticides. Persons doing other tasks involving direct contact with pesticides such as flagging or repairing pesticide‐contaminated equipment. Persons performing tasks as crop advisors or scouts during applications or re‐entry intervals (REIs).

Crop Advisor: 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.

Workers: Persons performing tasks related to the production of agricultural plants such as harvesting, planting, weeding, or watering.

Owner

Handler

Worker

Key Requirements for WPS Compliance

 

 

 

Wear PPE indicated on the label.

 

 

 

Observe restricted-entry intervals on the label.

 

 

 

Dispose of contaminated PPE.

N/A

 

 

Information at a central location (WPS safety poster, information on each application, and location of emergency medical facility).

N/A

 

 

Pesticide safety training (unless they have evidence of valid EPA training in the last 5 years. (See training criteria.) Certified applicators are considered trained.

N/A

 

 

Decontamination site – water, soap, towels. (Add change of clothing for handlers.)

N/A

 

 

Emergency assistance (transportation and information).

N/A

 

N/A

Monitoring handlers (if handling skull and crossbones pesticides).

N/A

 

N/A

Specific instructions for handlers (pesticide label information, access to labels, and how to use application equipment.

N/A

 

N/A

Equipment safety (inspection and maintenance of application equipment).

N/A

 

N/A

Personal protective equipment (provide, clean, maintain PPE and prevent heat illness).

N/A

 

N/A

Exceptions to PPE (closed systems, enclosed cabs, and enclosed cockpits).

N/A

 

N/A

Provide a pesticide-free area for changing clothes (PPE cannot be worn or taken home).

N/A

N/A

 

Restrictions during applications (do not allow workers in the area).*

N/A

N/A

 

Restrictions during restricted-entry intervals (and limitations on early entry).*

N/A

N/A

 

Notice about applications (oral warnings and/or treated area postings).

Other Duties

 

 

 

Provide instructions for people who repair or maintain equipment.

 

 

 

Provide instructions for people who clean PPE.

 

 

 

Exchange information with custom applicators and independent crop advisors (areas under REI and PPE required).

 


For more information on Worker Protection Standard:

Click on this link: https://pested.osu.edu/wps