Navigation

Public Records Request
Natural Resources Building
P.O. Box 42560
1111 Washington ST SE
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
Phone: (360) 902-1800

Worker Protection Standard (WPS)

Back
Home / Departments / Pesticides and Fertilizers / Pesticides / Compliance / Worker Protection

What do you need today?

Worker Protection Standard (WPS)

How to Comply


The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) to protect agricultural workers, pesticide handlers, and applicators from pesticides. EPA provides a manual to assist agricultural employers to comply with WPS: How to Comply. Free copies of this manual are available through the National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center. In Washington State, the Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and Labor and Industries (L&I) are responsible for WPS enforcement. Washington State created additional requirements for decontamination and WPS training: Washington's Worker Protection Standard.

Health Monitoring Requirement

The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) 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 the 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 a slowing of the heart rate, seizures, unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and death.

Monitoring 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.
 

Learn More About Cholinesterase Inhibiting Pesticides 

Cholinesterase inhibiting pesticides covered by L&I’s rule contain organophosphate or carbamate (N-methyl carbamate) ingredients and have a signal word of Danger-Poison, Danger, or Warning on the label.To access a copy of L&I's Cholinesterase Monitoring Rule and learn more about cholinesterase monitoring go to WISHA's cholinesterase monitoring page.