Pesticide Safety and Worker Protection Standard

What is the Worker Protection Standard?

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Worker Protection Standard
(WPS) is designed to reduce the risk of pesticide exposure to pesticide handlers
and agricultural workers. The WPS includes requirements for:

• pesticide safety training

• notification of pesticide applications

• use of personal protective equipment

• restricted entry intervals following pesticide application

• decontamination supplies

• emergency medical assistance

 

What services does ACT provide to assist growers with the Worker Protection Standard?

Staff of the Agricultural Consultation and Training (ACT) program assists growers in complying with federal and state Worker Protection Standards by providing pesticide safety training, developing pesticide information resources, and performing mock inspections to assist farm and nursery owners in complying with pesticide regulations.

Pesticide Safety Training

Among the more popular services provided by ACT staff are free pesticide safety training courses for pesticide handlers who work directly with pesticides while mixing, loading, and applying agrichemicals, and agricultural workers who perform tasks such as pruning, harvesting and irrigating crops.

Pesticide safety training course attendees learn how to work safely around pesticides or in areas where pesticides have been applied. The training courses are provided in English and Spanish and are open to anyone who would like to attend. Pesticide applicators that are already licensed or certified by the state of Arizona may also attend to receive two hours of continuing education, which they can apply toward the renewal of their license.

If you would like to learn more about the pesticide safety training services and the training session topics, click on the following links.

Pesticide Safety Training Services

Pesticide Safety Training Session Topics

Pesticide Safety Resources and Teaching Tools

ACT staff develops new and adapts existing teaching tools, informational resources, and training modules for use during safety events and for distribution to agricultural employers, employees, health care professionals, and pesticide safety educators.

One informational resource, The Bilingual English/Spanish Pesticide Label Terminology Pamphlet was developed to assist Spanish-reading pesticide handlers to interpret the pesticide use, safety, and health information located on pesticide product labels.

The pamphlet contains English-language terminology that is frequently found on pesticide product labels. Each word has been translated into Spanish. The terminology pertains to personal protective equipment, first aid, environmental protection, pesticide formulations, storage and disposal of pesticide containers, and the meaning of commonly used acronyms such as “EPA” and “WPS.” The pamphlet is a useful tool for improving communication between the English- and Spanish-speaking

Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Site Visits

ACT staff will visit your agricultural operation to perform a mock WPS inspection. During the visit, ACT staff will evaluate your operation to see if you are in compliance with state and federal pesticide safety laws. If you would like to request WPS Site Visit, call ACT’s pesticide safety field consultant at (602) 542-0985 or (800) 294-0308 (outside of Maricopa County).You may also perform your own mock inspection by using the Self-Evaluation Checklist

For more information call 602-542-0985 or 1-800-294-0308 (outside of Maricopa County).