Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency and the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative have released a guide intended to help agricultural pesticide handlers, workers and managers comply with 2015 revisions to the federal Worker Protection Standard.
The updated manual, How to Comply With the 2015 Revised Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides, includes information on:
- How to determine whether Worker Protection Standard requirements apply to you or your organization
- Requirement compliance guidelines
- A “Quick Reference Guide” highlighting basic exceptions, exemptions and other requirements
- New and revised definitions that may affect Worker Protection Standard responsibilities
EPA published a final rule updating the standard in September 2015. Numerous provisions are scheduled to go into effect in January 2017, including annual safety training requirements for workers who handle pesticides, prohibition of pesticide handling by workers younger than 18, and a requirement for employers to post application information and a Safety Data Sheet for each pesticide used on an establishment.
