Worker Protection Standard (WPS)

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• How to Comply Manual
• Resources
• Regulatory Changes / Guidance
• Cholinesterase-Inhibiting Pesticides
• WSDA's Farmworker Education Program

HOW TO COMPLY MANUAL

In 1992, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted the federal Worker Protection Standard to protect agricultural workers, including pesticide handlers and applicators, from pesticides and their residues. In order to assist agricultural employers comply with the WPS, EPA has updated its How to Comply manual. Although this manual includes changes to the federal standard in the last decade, it does not address more restrictive Washington State requirements for decontamination and training that are found in Washington's Worker Protection Standard. These more restrictive state requirements are addressed in the WSDA Manual Insert.

Washington agricultural employers can order a free copy of the How to Comply manual as well as many other WPS compliance and training resources from the National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center.

In Washington, the departments of agriculture and labor & industries jointly enforce WPS. Questions can be directed to a variety of state and federal contacts.
 

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RESOURCES

• 12-Step Personal Protective Equipment Removal and Decontamination Process:
  • English | Spanish
• Pesticide Applicator Advisory:
  • English | Spanish
• L&I Heat Stress Information
• Fact Sheet: Protecting Employees and Family Members from Pesticide Exposure
• WSDA's Washington Pesticide Laws Hand-out Booklet
• WSDA's Worker Protection Standard Checklist of Requirements:
  

  English	Spanish
  Grower/Employer Worker/Handler	Productor/Empleador Trabajadores Agricolas/Manejan

• Fluorescent Tracer Manual

REGULATORY CHANGES / GUIDANCE

• EPA
  • Enclosed Cab Guidance for PPE/Respiratory Protection
  • WPS amendments allowing separable glove liners beneath chemical-resistant gloves

• WSDA 
  • Emergency Eyeflushing for Pesticide Handlers
  • Enclosed Cabs Required for Airblast Application of Endosulfan Products on Tree Fruits

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Cholinesterase-Inhibiting Pesticides

Department of Labor and Industries' Cholinesterase Monitoring Rule requires monitoring of all agricultural employees who handle toxicity category I or II organophosphate or N-methyl-carbamate pesticides.   

Exposure to organophosphate or N-methyl-carbamate pesticides may reduce the activity of cholinesterase, an enzyme that aids in regulation of the nervous system. Reduced cholinesterase activity may result in overstimulation of the nervous system with physical symptoms including blurred vision, headache, increased sweating, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue. Severe exposures can lead to slowing of the heart rate, seizures, unconsciousness, respiratory failure and death.

Monitoring of pesticide handlers can detect overexposure and prevent illness. Cholinesterase monitoring includes:

Providing annual baseline laboratory testing and periodic testing, during the application season, of blood cholinesterase levels for workers with significant exposures.

Cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticide products

• Alphabetical List of category 1 and 2 pesticides covered by rule

To access a copy of L&I's Cholinesterase Monitoring Rule and learn more about cholinesterase monitoring go to WISHA's cholinesterase monitoring page or call Pam Edwards, at (360) 902-6457 (Labor & Industries, Olympia) or Pedro Serrano at (360) 902-5419 (Spanish.)

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