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Pesticides: Health and Safety
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Worker Safety and Training

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New! EPA Revises WPS Glove Requirements (6 pgs., 101 KB, PDF)
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National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center

Workers in several occupations may be exposed to pesticides by:

  • Preparing pesticides for use, such as by mixing a concentrate with water or loading the pesticide into application equipment
  • Applying pesticides, such as in an agricultural or commercial setting
  • Entering an area where pesticides have been applied to perform allowed tasks, such as picking crops.

Worker Protection Standard

The purpose of EPA's Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is to protect agricultural workers from the effects of exposure to pesticides. This standard is aimed at reducing the risk of pesticide poisonings and injuries among agricultural workers and handlers of agricultural pesticides. The WPS offers protections to over three and a half million people who work with pesticides at over 560,000 workplaces. The WPS contains requirements for
  • pesticide safety training,
  • notification of pesticide applications,
  • use of personal protective equipment,
  • restricted entry intervals following pesticide application,
  • decontamination supplies, and
  • emergency medical assistance.

Certification and Training/Restricted-Use Pesticides

EPA categorizes every use of every pesticide as either "unclassified" or "restricted use." Many times all the uses of a particular formulation are classified as restricted or all are unclassified. Sometimes, however, certain uses of a formulation are restricted and other uses of the same product are not. A pesticide, or some of its uses, is classified as restricted if it could cause harm to humans (pesticide handlers or other persons) or to the environment unless it is applied by certified applicators who have the knowledge to use these pesticides safely and effectively.

Certification and training regulations require pesticide applicators to meet certain training and/or testing requirements before they use or supervise the use of pesticides labeled "restricted use." In addition, the pesticide label indicates how a pesticide may be used and what protective clothing or other measures may be necessary for maintaining worker safety.

Laboratories Approved for Cholinesterase Testing For Occupational Health Surveillance Exit EPA disclaimer

Pesticide Safety Programs (PSP) is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative States Research Extension and Education Services. State land grant university and state pesticide regulatory agency(ies) also support PSP. This web site is designed to provide access to a web site or personal contact for pesticide safety, certification, and training inquiries. There are many resources available to professional applicators regarding certification and training, as well as resources for home and garden pesticide users. Exit EPA disclaimer

 

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