ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR HANDLER

EMPLOYERS (cont)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Duties Related to PPE

1. Provide handlers with the PPE the pesticide labeling 

requires for the task, and be sure it is: 

• clean and in operating condition, 

• worn and used correctly, 

• inspected before each day of use, 

• repaired or replaced as needed. 

2. Be sure respirators fit correctly. 

3. Take steps to avoid heat illness. 

4. Provide handlers a pesticide-free area for: 

• storing personal clothing not in use, 

• putting on PPE at start of task, 

• taking off PPE at end of task. 

5. Do not allow used PPE to be worn home or taken home. 

Care of PPE 

1. Store and wash used PPE separately from other clothing and 

laundry. 

2. If PPE will be reused, clean it before each day of reuse, 

according to the instructions from the PPE manufacturer unless 

the pesticide labeling specifies other requirements. If there are 

no other instructions, wash in detergent and hot water. 

3. Dry the clean PPE before storing, or hang to dry. 

4. Store clean PPE away from other clothing and away from 

pesticide areas. 

Replacing Respirator Purifying Elements 

1. Replace dust/mist filters: 

• when breathing becomes difficult, 

• when filter is damaged or torn, 

• when respirator label or pesticide label requires


(whichever is shorter), or

• at the end of day’s work period, in the absence of any 

other instructions or indications. 

2. Replace vapor-removing cartridges/canisters: 

• when odor/taste/irritation is noticed, 

• when respirator label or pesticide label requires


(whichever is shorter), or

• at the end of day’s work period, in the absence of any 

other instructions or indications. 

Disposal of PPE 

1. Discard coveralls and other absorbent materials that are 

heavily contaminated with undiluted pesticide having a 

“DANGER” or “WARNING” signal word. 

2. Follow federal, state, and local laws when disposing of PPE 

that cannot be cleaned correctly. 

Instructions for People Who Clean PPE 

Inform people who clean or launder PPE: 

• that PPE may be contaminated with pesticides, 

• of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to


pesticides,


• how to protect themselves when handling PPE, 

• how to clean PPE correctly. 

The Quick Reference Guide outlines what is necessary 

for you to comply with the Worker Protection 

Standard. The WPS is a federal regulation designed to 

protect agricultural workers (people involved in the 

production of agricultural plants) and pesticide 

handlers (people mixing, loading, or applying 

pesticides or doing other tasks involving direct contact 

with pesticides). This guide presents the maximum 

WPS requirements. It does not include exceptions that 

may permit you to do less or options that may involve 

different requirements. The revised (2005) How To 

Comply With the Worker Protection Standard for 

Agricultural Pesticides has more information about 

your responsibilities, exceptions and options. There are 

some exemptions for owners of agricultural 

establishments and members of their immediate family. 

QUICK 

REFERENCE 

GUIDE 

2005 UPDATE 

WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD (WPS) 

INCLUDING ALL REVISIONS 

THROUGH 2004 

Quick Reference Guide Web Links 

EPA Worker Protection Standard Topic Page 

http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/twor.html 

WPS Publications Page 

http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/awor.html 

Revised (2005) HTC Manual 

http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/htc.html 

For More Information 

National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center 

901 N. 5th Street 

Kansas City, KS 66101 

Toll-free: 1-888-663-2155 

Internet: www.epa.gov/agriculture 

Fax: 913-551-7270 

Ag Center # 52217 

November 2005 
DUTIES FOR ALL EMPLOYERS 

Anti-Retaliation 

Do not retaliate against a worker or handler who attempts to 

comply with the WPS 

Information at a Central Location 

1. In an easily seen central location on each agricultural 

establishment, display close together: 

• EPA WPS safety poster, 

• name, address, and telephone number of the nearest 

emergency medical facility, 

• these facts about each pesticide application [from before 

each application begins until 30 days after the restrictedentry interval (REI)]: 

–	 product name, EPA registration number, and active 

ingredient(s), 

–	 location and description of treated area, 

–	 time and date of application, and REI. 

2. Tell workers and handlers where the information is posted, 

and allow them access. 

3. Tell them if emergency facility information changes and 

update the posted information. 

4. Keep the posted information legible. 

Pesticide Safety Training 

Unless they possess a valid EPA-approved training card, train 

handlers and workers before they begin work and at least 

once each 5 years: 

• use written and/or audiovisual materials, 

• use EPA WPS handler training materials for training 

handlers, 

• use EPA WPS worker training materials for training 

workers, 

• have a certified applicator conduct the training orally 

and/or audiovisually in a manner the employees can 

understand, using easily understood terms, and respond 

to questions. 

Decontamination Supplies 

1. Establish accessible decontamination supplies located 

together within 1/4 mile of all workers and handlers. Supply: 

• enough water for routine and emergency whole-body 

washing and for eyeflushing, 

• plenty of soap and single-use towels, 

• a clean coverall. 

2. Provide water that is safe and cool enough for washing, for 

eyeflushing, and for drinking. Do not use tank-stored water 

that is also used for mixing pesticides. 

3. Provide handlers the same supplies where personal 

protective equipment (PPE) is removed at the end of a task. 

4. Provide the same supplies at each mixing and loading site. 

5. Make at least 1 pint eyeflush water immediately accessible 

to each handler. 

6. Do not put worker decontamination supplies in areas being 

treated or under an REI. 

7. In areas being treated, put decontamination supplies for 

handlers in enclosed containers. 

Employer Information Exchange 

1. Before any application, commercial handler employers must 

make sure the operator of the agricultural establishment where a 

pesticide will be applied is aware of: 

• location and description of area to be treated, 

• time and date of application, 

• product name, EPA registration number, active


ingredient(s), and REI,


• whether the product label requires both oral warnings and 

treated area posting, 

• all other safety requirements on labeling for workers or 

other people. 

2. Operators of agricultural establishments must make sure any 

commercial pesticide establishment operator they hire is aware of: 

• specific location and description of all areas on the 

agricultural establishment where pesticides will be applied 

or where an REI will be in effect while the commercial 

handler is on the establishment, 

• restrictions on entering those areas. 

Emergency Assistance 

When any handler or worker may have been poisoned or injured 

by pesticides: 

1. Promptly make transportation available to an appropriate 

medical facility. 

2. Promptly provide to the victim and to medical personnel: 

• product name, EPA registration number, and active


ingredient(s),


• all first aid and medical information from label, 

• description of how the pesticide was used, 

• information about victim’s exposure. 

ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR WORKER 

EMPLOYERS 

Restrictions During Applications 

1. In areas being treated with pesticides, allow entry only to 

appropriately trained and equipped handlers. 

2. Keep nursery workers at least 100 feet away from nursery 

areas being treated. 

3. Allow only handlers to be in a greenhouse: 

• during a pesticide application, 

• until labeling-listed air concentration level is met or, if no 

such level, until after 2 hours of ventilation with fans. 

Restricted-Entry Intervals (REIs) 

During any REI, do not allow workers to enter a treated area and 

contact anything treated with the pesticide to which the REI applies. 

Notice About Applications 

1. Orally warn workers and post treated areas if the pesticide 

labeling requires. 

2. Otherwise, either orally warn workers or post entrances to 

treated areas. Tell workers which method is in effect. 

3. Post all greenhouse applications. 

Posted Warning Signs 

1. Post legible 14" x 16" WPS-design signs just before 

application; keep posted during REI; remove before workers 

enter and within 3 days after the end of the REI. 

2. Post signs so they can be seen at all entrances to treated 

areas, including entrances from labor camps. 

Oral Warnings 

1. Before each application, tell workers who are on the 

establishment (in a manner they can understand): 

• location and description of treated area, 

• REI, and not to enter during REI. 

2. Workers who enter the establishment after application starts 

must receive the same warning at the start of their work period. 

ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR HANDLER 

EMPLOYERS 

Application Restrictions and Monitoring 

1. Do not allow handlers to apply a pesticide so that it 

contacts, directly or through drift, anyone other than trained 

and PPE-equipped handlers. 

2. Make sight or voice contact at least every 2 hours with 

anyone handling pesticides labeled with a skull and 

crossbones. 

3. Make sure a trained handler equipped with labelingspecified PPE maintains constant voice or visual contact with 

any handler in a greenhouse who is doing fumigant-related 

tasks, such as application or air-level monitoring. 

Specific Instructions for Handlers 

1. Before handlers do any handling task, inform them, in a 

manner they can understand, of all pesticide labeling 

instructions for safe use. 

2. Keep pesticide labeling accessible to each handler during 

entire handling task. 

3. Before handlers use any assigned handling equipment, tell 

them how to use it safely. 

4. When commercial handlers will be on an agricultural 

establishment, inform them beforehand of: 

• areas on the establishment where pesticides will be


applied or where an REI will be in effect,


• restrictions on entering those areas. 

(The agricultural establishment operator must give you these 

facts.) 

Equipment Safety 

1. Inspect pesticide handling equipment before each use, and 

repair or replace as needed. 

2. Allow only appropriately trained and equipped handlers to 

repair, clean, or adjust pesticide equipment that contains 

pesticides or residues.