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2008 Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide: Worker Protection Standards1
H.N. Nigg and M.A. Mossler2The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for Agricultural Pesticides is designed to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from exposure to pesticides. Both general use and restricted-use pesticides are covered. You will know that the product is covered by the WPS if you see the following statement in the Directions for Use Section of the pesticide label:
Agricultural Use Requirements-
Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR Part 170. This standard contains requirements for the protection of agricultural workers on farms, forest, nurseries, and greenhouses, and handlers of agricultural pesticides. It contains requirements for training, decontamination, notification, and emergency assistance. It also contains specific instructions and exceptions pertaining to the statements on the label about personal protective equipment, notification of workers, and restricted-entry intervals (REI).
If you are using a pesticide product with labeling that refers to the WPS, you must comply with the WPS to avoid violation of Federal Law. (See Tables 4-7 in Fact Sheet ENY-601 , Pesticides Registered for Use on Florida Citrus, for additional information.)
Agricultural employers should obtain a copy of the EPA publication, "The Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides - How to Comply" for a detailed explanation of the standard and how to comply with its requirements. It may be obtained from the IFAS Pesticide Information Office at the University of Florida, Gainesville, 352-392-4721.
We also suggest the IFAS EDIS publication, "Florida Ag Worker Safety Act" (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PI078) for additional information.
Footnotes
1. This document is CPMG-07, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Date printed: September 1999. Date revised: November 2007. This publication is included in SP-43, 2008 Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide. A copy of this publication may be found at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/CG036. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. For a copy of this handbook, request information on its purchase at your county extension office.2. H.N. Nigg, professor emeritus, Entomology and Nematology Department, Citrus REC, Lake Alfred, Florida; and M.A. Mossler, assistant in, Pesticide Information Office, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Gainesville, Florida; Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.