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Ag Center Fact Sheet |
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EPA 305-F-98-029 September
1998 |
Agrichemicals WPS Pesticide Handler Definition |
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FOCUS ON Definition of a Pesticide Handler
The Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a regulation
issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 and amended in
1995. It covers pesticides that are used in the production of agricultural
plants on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses. The WPS requires you
to take steps to reduce the risk of pesticide-related illness and injury
if you (1) use such pesticides, or (2) employ workers or pesticide
handlers who are exposed to such pesticides.
By explaining what types of workers are considered "pesticide
handlers" under this regulation, this fact sheet will help you understand
who you must legally provide protections for.
Who is a handler?
A pesticide handler is anyone who:
- is employed (including self-employed) for any type of compensation
by an agricultural establishment or a commercial pesticide handling
establishment that uses pesticides in the production of agricultural
plants on a farm, forest, nursery, or greenhouse, and
- is doing any of the following tasks:
- mixing, loading, transferring, or applying pesticides,
- handling opened containers of pesticides,
- acting as a flagger,
- cleaning, handling, adjusting, or repairing the parts of mixing,
loading, or application equipment that may contain pesticide residues,
- assisting with the application of pesticides, including
incorporating the pesticide into the soil after the application has
occurred,
- entering a greenhouse or other enclosed area after application and
before the inhalation exposure level listed on the product labeling
has been reached or one of the WPS ventilation criteria has been met
to:
- operate ventilation equipment,
- adjust or remove coverings, such as tarps, used in fumigation,
or
- check air concentration levels, entering a treated area outdoors
after application of any soil fumigant to adjust or remove soil
coverings, such as tarpaulins,
- performing tasks as a crop advisor during any pesticide
application, and before any inhalation exposure level or ventilation
criteria listed in the labeling has been reached or one of the WPS
ventilation criteria has been met during any restricted-entry
interval,
- disposing of pesticides or pesticide containers.
Who is not a handler?
A person is NOT a handler if he or she only handles pesticide
containers that have been emptied or cleaned according to instructions on
pesticide product labeling or, if the labeling has no such instructions,
have been triple-rinsed or cleaned by an equivalent method, such as
pressure rinsing.
A person is NOT a handler if he or she (1) is ONLY handling pesticide
containers that are unopened AND (2) is NOT, at the same time, also doing
any handling task (such as mixing or loading).
Examples:
- You ARE a handler if you are loading unopened water-soluble packets
into a mixing tank (because you are mixing and loading the pesticide).
- You are NOT a handler if you:
- purchase pesticides and transport them unopened to an
establishment.
- carry unopened containers into a pesticide storage facility.
- transport unopened containers to the site where they are to be
mixed, loaded, or applied.
Certified applicators
Handlers who are currently certified as applicators of restricted-use
pesticides must be given all of the WPS handler protections, except that
they need not receive WPS training.
For more information
To get more facts about compliance, contact the Ag Center by phone,
fax, or mail. Call the toll-free number to ask compliance questions
or order publications. At the Ag
Center's web site you can explore compliance information and order or
download publications. For a complete publications list, request
document 10001, "Ag
Center Publications."
The Ag Center welcomes comments on this document and its other
services.
National Agriculture Compliance Assistance
Center 901 North Fifth Street Kansas City, KS
66101 Toll-free: 1-888-663-2155 Internet: www.epa.gov/agriculture |