The Worker Protection Standard
is for
Agricultural Workers & Handlers of Agricultural Use Pesticides.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) through the Code of Federal Regulations established the Worker Protection Standard (40 CFR 170) which pertains to the safety and health of employees who work on farms, in forests, in greenhouses or in nurseries where agricultural use pesticides are used or stored in the production of agricultural plants grown or maintained for commercial or research purposes.  The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requires agricultural establishment owners such as Purdue University to take steps to reduce the risk of pesticide related illness and injury (1) if they use these pesticides, or (2) employ workers or pesticide handlers who are exposed to such pesticides.  To ensure compliance with the WPS, REM offers Pesticide Handler Training which provides for employees information about exposure to pesticides, protection against exposure to pesticides, and ways to mitigate exposures to pesticides.

Notification of scheduled training sessions is done via e-mail notifications to departmental contacts that distribute and post notifications as necessary.  On campus training for affected departments is provided by Judah Young at the beginning of each semester or on an as "needed basis".  Brian McDonald provides training for satellite operations and farms.  There is no sign-up required, simply attend any session that suits an individual's schedule.

Verification of WPS compliance training is provided through the "WPS Training and Information Verification" form, which is completed at the end of the training session.  The original certificate is sent to the trained individual's business office to be placed in their personnel file.  REM also retains a copy of the verification.  The training is good for five (5) years.

By signing the "WPS Training and Information Verification" form an individual acknowledges they have received training and information concerning the WPS and the policies and procedures applicable to their work.  The training program contains at a minimum the following elements:

1. Format and meaning of information of pesticide labels and in labeling, including safety information such as precautionary statements abut human health hazards
2. Hazards of pesticides resulting from toxicity and exposure, including acute effects, chronic effects, delayed effects and sensitization
3. Routes through pesticides can enter the body
4. Signs and symptoms of common types of pesticide poisoning
5. Emergency aid for pesticide injuries or poisonings
6. How to obtain emergency care
7. Routine and emergency decontamination procedures including emergency eye flushing techniques
8. Need for and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
9. Prevention, recognition and first aid treatment of heat related illness
10. Safety requirements for handling, transporting, storing and disposing of pesticides, including general procedures for spill cleanup
11. Environmental concerns such as drift, runoff and wildlife hazards
12. Warnings about taking pesticides or pesticide containers home
13. An explanation of the WPS requirements handlers and employees must adhere to for the protection of handlers and others, including the prohibition against applying pesticides in a manner that will cause contact with workers or to other persons, requirements for use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the provisions for training and decontamination and protection against retaliatory acts

*  Handler - those employees that mix, load, or apply agricultural pesticides; clean or repair pesticide application equipment; or assist with the application of pesticides in any way. Handlers must be trained before performing any handling task.

**  Worker - those employees that perform tasks related to the cultivation and harvesting of plants on University farms or in greenhouses, nurseries, or forests. Workers include anyone employed for any compensation doing tasks, such as carrying nursery stock, repotting plants, or watering, related to the production of agricultural plants at the University. Workers must receive basic pesticide safety information before they enter a treated area. No more than 5 days after initial employment, workers must receive complete WPS safety training.

Workers do NOT include such employees as office employees, truck drivers, mechanics, and any other worker not engaged in agricultural worker/handler activities.

WPS Pesticide Safety Training as well as training materials are available from REM by contacting Judah Young or Brian McDonald.

Copyright © 2006, Purdue University, all rights reserved.
Last Modified: Friday, March 11, 2005
Send questions or comments about this web site to judah@purdue.edu.