This program familiarizes trainers with federal Worker Protection Standard requirements and California training requirements and provides useful information on how to conduct training programs. Each eight-hour workshop is designed for trainers of both pesticide handlers and agricultural fieldworkers. Trainers are taught pesticide safety and effective teaching techniques. Course instruction covers label comprehension, environmental protection, health issues, laws and regulations, handling procedures and fieldworker safety.
Participants receive hands-on training in equipment and use of protective clothing.
Enrollment is limited, so early registration is advised. The UC IPM Pesticide Education Program is one of only a handful of teaching programs approved by DPR to qualify instructors to train pesticide handlers and agricultural fieldworkers under state pesticide laws. The program develops and tests new and innovative materials and training programs to bridge cultural, language and educational barriers in California s diverse agricultural workforce. Since 1994 PEP staff have trained more than 4,400 instructors, who in turn have trained 813,000 fieldworkers and pesticide handlers.