Agricultural Worker Protection Standard 40 CFR Parts 156 & 170 Interpretive Policy

A. Any ventilation requirement specified on product labeling must be met. The ventilation criteria in the WPS are not part of the accelerated provisions. (March 22, 1993)

1.12 Labeling in reference to...

A. The WPS reference must be on the label before the accelerated provisions are applicable. (March 22, 1993)

2.1 Crop Advisors

2.11 Status under the WPS

A. If crop advisors enter an area during an application or an REI they are considered handlers and must be trained as handlers. This allows the crop advisor unlimited access to the field during the REI, provided he/she is provided all other WPS handler protections. If advisors are employees of the agricultural establishment and enter field after the REI is over, they are considered workers and would receive worker training if not already trained as a handler. If they are not employed by the agricultural establishment (i.e., for-hire) they are not protected by the WPS after the termination of the REI. NOTE: Crop advisors will be addressed in the How-To-Comply Manual. (March 22, 1993)

2.12 Knowledge of site-specific information

A. At 40 CFR part 170.232(b), the WPS requires that whenever a handler, (e.g., a crop advisor), who is employed by a commercial pesticide handling establishment will be performing handling tasks, (i.e., scouting), on an agricultural establishment, the handler employer must assure that the handler is aware of the following information concerning any areas on the agricultural establishment that the handler may be in (or walk within 1/4 mile of) and that may be treated with a pesticide or that may be under a restricted-entry interval while the handler will be on the agricultural establishment:

(1) Specific location and description of any such areas; and

(2) Restrictions on entering those areas.

For example, if commercial crop advisors are scheduled to scout in an area on a farm that remains under an REI, they need to be told the specific location and description of the area and what personal protective equipment they must wear while in that area.

NOTE: The agricultural employer is required to make sure that commercial handler employers have this information. (40 CFR part 170.124)

If crop advisors will be in or on a vehicle within 1/4 mile of the treated area, but not in the treated area, no notification is necessary.

If crop advisors are in or on a vehicle in the treated area, notification is necessary.

If crop advisors are on foot, they must be notified if they are in the treated or within 1/4 mile of the treated area.

NOTE: For more information on crop advisors, see the How To Comply Manual, What Employees Need To Know. (February 24, 1994)

3.1 Decontamination

3.11 Size of eyeflush containers

A. A single large container would suffice if it were immediately accessible to each worker or handler who requires it. (March 22, 1993)

3.12 Single-use towels

A. There are two separate requirements for decontamination sites for early-entry workers (and there are two for handlers):

(1) While they are performing early-entry tasks, early-entry workers must be provided a decontamination site that includes single-use towels.

(2) In addition, at the end of their exposure period, early-entry workers must be provided a decontamination site at the place where they remove their personal protective equipment. At this site, "clean towels" (single-use or reusable cloth) are allowed, because this site could be equipped with a shower and single-use towels would be awkward for whole-body drying. (March 22, 1993)

3.13 Decontamination materials for flaggers

A. Decontamination facilities for flaggers must be within 1/4 mile of the flagger. If the decontamination site for handlers (i.e., aerial applicators) is more than 1/4 mile from each flagger, then there must be a separate decontamination site to serve such flaggers. For tasks performed more than 1/4 mile from the nearest point reachable by vehicles (cars, trucks, or tractors), the decontamination site may be at the access point. In this circumstance, clean water from springs, streams, lakes, or other sources may be used for decontamination, if such water is more readily available that the water at the decontamination site. (March 22, 1993)

3.14 Immediate availability of eyeflush

Similarly, 40 CFR part 170.250(d), requires the handler employer to assure that at least 1 pint of water is immediately available to each handler who is performing tasks for which the pesticide labeling requires protective eyewear.

What is meant by "immediately available"?

A. In both sections of the WPS addressing availability of eyeflush water, the Agency requires that emergency eyeflush water be carried by the handler or early-entry worker, or be on the vehicle (or aircraft) which the handler or early-entry worker is using, or be otherwise immediately accessible. (40 CFR parts 170.150(b)(4) and 170.250(d))

The How-to-Comply with the Worker Protection Standard Manual states that emergency eyeflush water may be at the decontamination site if the decontamination site is immediately accessible.

Because the WPS specifies that eyewash water must be carried by the handler or early-entry worker, or must be on the vehicle or aircraft that the handler or early-entry worker is using, the eyewash water must be close and accessible to the worker or handler at all times. In addition, because concentrations and causticity of agricultural chemicals vary so greatly (and therefore the duration of exposure necessary for ocular damage to occur is difficult to uniformly determine), emergency eyewash water must be available immediately. If the emergency eyewash water is not being carried on one's person, it must be situated at such a distance that one could get to it within very few seconds. (November 17, 1993)

3.15 Examples of immediate availability

A. In addition to the examples listed above, the following might be additional examples of "immediately available":

1. Running water, a commercial eyeflush dispenser, or decontamination water in a carboy at a mix/load, storage, equipment cleaning or repairing, or other stationary handling (or early-entry) site for handlers or early entry workers engaged in such activities at the site.

2. Running water or commercial eyeflush dispensers that are located at frequent intervals and are easily accessed by the handlers/early-entry workers in a bench-type nursery or greenhouse site.

3. Water that meets the WPS standard for decontamination water that is in a nurse tank or other supply tank that is on (or being dragged by) the vehicle a handler or early-entry worker is operating. (November 17, 1993)

3.16 Examples of unacceptable locations for eyeflush

unacceptable

NOT

A. Examples of situations where emergency eyeflush water would NOT be immediately accessible are:

1. Water on a vehicle but in a locked compartment.

2. Water for which difficult or time-consuming steps must be taken to access, such as having to uncouple or connect a nurse tank hose, having to unlock a compartment holding the eyeflush dispenser or having to unlock a restroom.

3. Water located across a stream or commercial road. (November 17, 1993)

3.17 WPS and OSHA requirements for decontamination water

A. No, the WPS requirement does not preempt the OSHA requirement for potable water. Please note that the EPA requirement is not for "water safe for drinking" but that the water be of such a quality and temperature that will not cause illness or injury when it contacts the skin or eyes or if it is swallowed.

OSHA's Field Sanitation Standard requires that potable drinking water be made available to workers. The water must be suitably cool and provided in sufficient amounts to meet the needs of all employees. By providing potable water which meets OSHA standards, an agricultural employer may meet the WPS water quality requirement. (March 7, 1995)

3.18 Decontamination requirements and handlers

A. Yes. (see section 170.250.) (March 7, 1995)

3.19 Eyeflush water preemption

A. No, the EPA requirement does not preempt other requirements. It is acceptable to use eye flush dispensers provided all the WPS emergency eye flushing requirements are met. (March 7, 1995)

3.20 Decontamination facilities for consultants

A. Yes, the handler employer could be providing the decontamination site if the employee has access to the grower's decontamination facility. The decontamination site must meet the WPS requirements.

In this situation, it is suggested that the handler employer work this out in advance with the grower. (March 7, 1995)

3.21 Use of diluent water for decontamination

A. Any device or mechanism that prevents contamination from the pesticide mix tank from entering the water tank is sufficient. Some examples include anti-back siphon devices, one-way or check valves, or an air gap sufficient to prevent contamination. (March 7, 1995)

4.1 Definitions

4.11 Interpretation of the term "use"

A. The purpose of section 170.9 is to explain how the misuse provisions of FIFRA apply to the full range of pesticide-related activities addressed by the WPS. That need only be explained once while the terms in the definitions section are used repeatedly throughout the WPS. Therefore, listing definitions in one section is a convenience to readers. The discussion of "use" was included as opposed to a definition because the term "use" appears in the document in other contexts, e.g., use of PPE, use of equipment, plants used. (March 22, 1993)

4.12 When is a crop harvested

A. The WPS does not apply when any pesticide is applied to the harvested portions of agricultural plants or on harvested timber. Once a crop is harvested, workers performing activities related only to the harvested portion of the agricultural plant are not covered by the requirements of the WPS. NOTE: Harvesting includes packing produce into containers in the field.

For purposes of the WPS, an agricultural plant is considered harvested when:

(1) a desirable portion of the agricultural plant (seed, fruit, flower, stem, foliage, or roots) is detached from its parent, or

(2) a whole agricultural plant is separated from its growth media (soil, water, or other media).

Pesticide applications to harvested portions of agricultural plants or to harvested timber are not within the scope of the WPS.

Pesticide applications on an agricultural establishment that are within the scope of the WPS include:

(1) applications to the "parent" portion of the agricultural plant that remains after the crop has been harvested, if the application is made for the purposes of continuing the production of the "parent" plant or eliminating the "parent" plant.

(2) applications to the growth media that remains behind after the crop has been harvested, if the application is made for the purposes of (a) continuing the production of the "parent" plant or (b) eliminating the "parent" plant or (c) preparing the media for replanting or reseeding of an agricultural plant.

(3) applications to agricultural plants (including transplants) that are in growth media.

(4) applications to agricultural plants or plant portions (seeds, roots, bulbs, cuttings, etc) on an agricultural establishment immediately prior to or during planting, transplanting, or grafting.

Note: This interpretation, for the purposes of the WPS, of when a crop is harvested is NOT intended to intrude on interpretations relating to "Days to Harvest" statements on pesticide labels. (November 17, 1993)

4.13 Sod/turf growing establishments, nursery

A. The WPS defines a nursery as any operation engaged in the outdoor production of any agricultural plant to produce cut flowers and ferns or plants that will be used in their entirety in another location. The definition states that such plants include turfgrass produced for sod.

As defined in 40 CFR part 170.3, sod/turf growing establishments are considered to be nurseries if the sod/turf is grown for commercial or research purposes and is to be used in its entirety in another location. (November 17, 1993)

4.13.1 Sod/turf growing establishments, farm

A. The WPS defines a farm as any operation, other than a nursery or forest, engaged in the outdoor production of agricultural plants.

Agricultural establishments that are not nurseries and that are growing sod/turf outdoors for commercial or research purposes, for example, for seed production, are considered to be farms. (November 17, 1993)

4.14 Closed systems

A. At 40 CFR part 170.240(d)(4), the WPS defines closed systems and allows exceptions to labeling required personal protective equipment (PPE) when a closed system is used provided certain conditions and requirements are met. These exceptions to PPE are allowed unless expressly prohibited by the product labeling.

Closed systems are systems designed by the manufacturer to enclose the pesticide to prevent it from contacting handlers or other people while it is being handled. Such systems must function properly and be used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's written operation instructions. Closed systems manufactured by a private person which meet the criteria in the regulations, including the requirement for written instructions, are acceptable.

Examples of closed systems include:

1) closed mixing/loading systems;

2) closed application systems designed to incorporate pesticides into soil, but only if the system does not allow any pesticide contact with the air throughout the entire application process.

3) water soluble bags while the bag is intact.

The WPS provides that handler employers may allow handlers to omit some of the PPE listed on the pesticide labeling for a handling task if the handlers are using a closed system:

1) When using a closed system to mix or load pesticides with the signal word "DANGER: or "WARNING," handlers need not wear all the PPE listed on the pesticide labeling, but must wear at least:

-long-sleeved shirt and long pants,

-shoes and socks,

-a chemical-resistant apron, and

-protective gloves specified on the pesticide labeling for mixing, loading, an other handling tasks.

2) When using a closed system to mix or load pesticides with the signal word "CAUTION," handlers need not wear all the PPE listed on the pesticide labeling, but must wear at least:

-long-sleeved shirt and long pants, and

-shoes and socks.

3) When using a closed system to do handling tasks other than mixing and loading with ANY pesticide, handlers need not wear all of the PPE listed on the pesticide labeling, but must wear at least:

-long-sleeved shirt and long pants, and

-shoes and socks.

4) When using a closed system that operates under pressure, handlers may wear the reduced PPE specified above, but must add protective eyewear.

Even when reduced PPE is permitted to be worn during a task, handlers must be provided all PPE required by the pesticide labeling for that task and have it immediately available for use in an emergency.

NOTE: For mixing/loading/transferring of pesticides outside the scope of WPS, follow the FIFRA Compliance Program Policy 12.2, Pesticides Closed Transfer, Mixing/Loading and Application Equipment (Closed Systems). (February 24, 1994)

4.15 Water-soluble bags

A. Yes, for WPS purposes, a water soluble bag is considered a closed loading system and, unless prohibited by the product labeling, handlers may be permitted to wear reduced personal protective equipment (PPE) as outlined in 40 CFR part 170.240(d)(4).

Once a water soluble bag is dissolved, broken, punctured, torn, or otherwise allows its contents to escape, it no longer a closed system and label specified PPE must be worn. In the case of routine mixing and loading with water soluble bags, label-specified PPE for the activity performed must be worn once the bags have lost their integrity, i.e., begin to dissolve in the tank, unless the mix tank and transfer system are closed systems. (February 24, 1994)

4.16 Enclosed cabs

A. At 40 CFR part 170.240(d)(5), the WPS defines enclosed cabs and allows exceptions to labeling required personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling tasks are performed from inside an enclosed cab provided certain conditions, including the type of cab, and requirements are met. These exceptions to PPE are allowed unless expressly prohibited by the product labeling.

Enclosed cabs must have a nonporous barrier that totally surrounds the occupants and prevents contact with pesticides outside of the cab.

Enclosed cabs that provide respiratory protection must have a properly functioning ventilation system that is used and maintained according to the manufacturer's written operating instructions. To substitute for a label-required respirator, the enclosed cab must be declared in writing by the manufacturer or by a governmental agency to provide at least as much respiratory protection as the type of respirator listed in the pesticide labeling.

Examples:

Some enclosed cab systems provide respiratory protection equivalent to a dust/mist filtering respirator and could, therefore, be used a s a substitute when that type of respirator is specified in the product labeling.

Other enclosed cab systems are equipped to remove organic vapors as well as dusts and mists and could be used as a substitute when either the dust/mist filtering respirator or an organic vapor removing respirator is specified on the product labeling.

The WPS provides that handler employers may allow handlers to omit some of the PPE listed on the pesticide on the pesticide labeling for a handling task if the handlers are using an enclosed cab:

1) In enclosed cabs that do not provide respiratory protection handlers need not wear all PPE listed on the pesticide labeling, but must wear at least:

-long-sleeved shirt and long pants,

-shoes and socks,

-any respirator required for the handling task.

2) In enclosed cabs that provide respiratory protection equal to the labeling required respirator handlers need not wear all the PPE listed on the pesticide labeling but must wear at least:

-long-sleeved shirt and long pants, and

-shoes and socks.

3) In any enclosed cab where reduced PPE is worn-

Handlers must:

-keep immediately available all PPE listed on the labeling for the type of task being performed,

-wear the PPE if it is necessary to leave the cab and contact pesticide treated surfaces in the treated area,

-take off PPE that was worn in the treated are before entering the cab, and

-store all PPE in a chemical resistant container such as a plastic bag, to prevent contamination of the inside of the cab.

NOTE: For pesticide applications utilizing an enclosed cab for uses outside the scope of WPS, follow the FIFRA compliance Program Policy 12.6, Enclosed Cab Use for Pesticide Applications. The Compliance Policy outlines slightly different conditions than the regulation. In addition, states may have additional requirements regarding the use of enclosed cabs. (February 24, 1994)

4.16.1 Open cabs

open

A. Yes, an applicator, or other handler, performing handling tasks in a cab, i.e., tractor or truck cab, with the windows open must wear all labeling prescribed PPE.

As discussed in the preceding question and answer, enclosed cabs must have a nonporous barrier that totally surrounds the occupants and prevents contact with pesticides outside of the cab. When the windows of the cab are open at any time during the handling activity, or the enclosure is otherwise breached, the cab is no longer considered enclosed and handlers would be required to wear the PPE required on the pesticide label for handlers of the product. (February 24, 1994)

4.17 When is a structure a greenhouse

A. No. The WPS definition of a greenhouse specifies that it is a structure enclosed with nonporous covering. Structures which are only enclosed with porous material such as cheesecloth or nylon screen are not considered greenhouses under the WPS. (February 28, 1995)

4.18 Is a structure a greenhouse; if windows and doors remain open during application

A. Yes. Regardless of whether a greenhouse has windows or doors which are left open during the application, the structure is still a greenhouse and subject to the WPS provisions applicable to greenhouses. (February 28, 1995)

4.19 Is a structure a greenhouse; if walls are porous, or sides are removed

A. If a greenhouse structure has sides/panels and a significant portion of the enclosure may be removed, such as large glass panels that are taken off, fiberglass or polyurethane walls which are moved up and down, sliding gateways that move back to essentially remove significant portions of the structure, or other similar apparatus where the non-porous sides/panels are removed, then such a structure would not be considered a greenhouse as long as the sides/coverings remain completely removed during the entire pesticide application and any applicable REI associated with the application is met. (February 28, 1995)

4.20 Greenhouses, one structure with 3 subenclosures

1 range with 3 sections separated by walls and doors

A. This structure is one greenhouse consisting of three subenclosures, except in the rare circumstance that each section, including all ventilation systems, can be completely sealed off from one another. This question is most important when fumigants are applied in a greenhouse. In that instance, the WPS (and the fumigant label) prohibit entry to the entire greenhouse (including any adjacent structure or building that cannot be sealed off from the treated area) by any person, other than a trained and equipped pesticide handler performing certain handler tasks. The prohibition extends until the entry criteria listed on the fumigant's labeling are met.

For non-fumigant pesticides, the WPS permits the use in greenhouses of sub-enclosures that need not meet the stringent criteria of being "sealed off" from the rest of the greenhouse structure. Sub-enclosures can be created for non-porous wall, including temporary walls consisting of intact, sturdy plastic or other non-porous materials, that restrict the movement of non-gaseous pesticides to the area within. Such a sub-enclosure constitutes the area that must be vacated during smoke, mist, fog, and aerosol applications and during applications for which the pesticide labeling requires the applicator to wear a respirator, and also constitutes the area that must be posted.

In addition, if the treated area is so enclosed, the 25-foot setback zones for certain other types of pesticide applications do not extend beyond the walls of the sub-enclosure. (February 28, 1995)

4.21 Coarse spray, applicability to Tables 1 and 2 in 40 CFR part 170.110

Q.For the purposes of the restrictions during application in greenhouses and nurseries, is a coarse spray defined as one produced with pressures less than 40 psi? If so, is a coarse spray one of the "otherwise" types of applications in Tables 1 and 2 in 170.110, i.e., those applications where workers are prohibited only in the treated area and not in the larger area of the greenhouse or nursery during application?

A. The term coarse spray is not used in the regulation and therefore not defined. An "otherwise" type of application is one that does not meet the criteria in Column A, Tables 1 and 2, at Section 170.110, and is irrespective of droplet size. (June 14, 1996)

4.22 What is the treated area, when pesticide spray is directed to the base of a tree

Q.What is the treated area when a pesticide is applied by directed spray to the base of a tree in an orchard? Will the whole orchard be off limits to early entry by workers?

A.The treated area is the area to which the pesticide is directed. An agricultural employer may designate what the restricted entry area is by the appropriate notice of application. It is this designated area, not the whole orchard, to which the restricted entry interval applies. (June 14, 1996)

4.23 Definition of enclosed cockpit

Q.How should an "enclosed cockpit" be defined, per CFR 170.240(d)?

A.An aircraft with an enclosed cockpit is defined as any aircraft with a windshield and adjoining canopy. Additionally, pilot points of entry and all windows must be closed. EPA recommends that, when possible and in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, air filters or positive pressure systems be installed on aerial application aircraft. (June 14, 1996)

4.24 Definition of contaminated aircraft

Q.The WPS requires the use of chemical resistant gloves to be worn by any person entering or leaving an aircraft contaminated by pesticide residues. How does EPA define the term "contaminated aircraft" as found in this provision?

A.For the purposes of 40 CFR 170.240(d)(6)(i), an aircraft will be considered contaminated anytime after the aircraft has been used in applying a pesticide, even if there are no "visible" signs of contamination. The aircraft will be considered to be contaminated until such time that the aircraft has been rinsed or washed in a manner consistent with routine washing practices. The mixing and/or loading of pesticides into the aircraft mix tank shall not be considered to result in contamination of the aircraft as long as such mixing/loading is accomplished through a closed system or other mechanism that will not result in pesticide residues being deposited onto the aircraft. (June 14, 1996)

5.1 Entry Restrictions

5.11 State-established REIs

A. If the label bears the WPS reference statement and a statement requiring compliance with a Restricted Entry Interval (REI), albeit one that was placed on the labeling to reflect a State-established REI, it is considered to be the restricted-entry interval required under FIFRA. Thus, the WPS provisions apply unless otherwise specified on the label. Please note that REI's on labeling must be reflected in the Federal registration of the product. If States impose an REI through State regulation which is not on the labeling, the State REI would not trigger the REI related provisions from the WPS. (March 22, 1993)

5.12 Irrigation activities

A. Irrigation activities were excluded from the definition of "hand labor" in order to create a short term exception for such activities under the early entry provisions. Irrigation activities do pose exposure concerns, but the Agency recognized that these activities need to be done. The Agency requires protection from this exposure by limiting the amount of time a worker is allowed in the treated area and requiring the worker to wear PPE. (March 22, 1993)

5.12.1 Irrigation activities under an REI (continued)

A. WPS was designed to reduce the opportunities for workers to be exposed to pesticide residues in treated areas during REIs. For example, with the exceptions noted below, irrigation pipe may not be moved during REIs when that task would bring workers into contact with treated surfaces. As a result, agricultural employers should schedule pesticide applications and irrigation so that the need for irrigation involving workers during REIs will be minimized. If, however, irrigation in a treated area under a REI is essential, it is permitted under WPS under the following conditions:

1. Without Entry to Treated Area -- Some irrigation tasks take place at the edges of fields, which may not be within the treated area (area to which the pesticide has been directed.) An example may be the installation or removal of pipe for furrow irrigation. As long as such activities do not cause workers to enter the treated area, they may take place without time limit or use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the REI.

2. With Entry to Treated Area:

a. By Pesticide Handlers -- During chemigation or when pesticide labeling requires the pesticide to be watered-in, this task may be performed by trained handlers wearing the handler PPE specified on the product labeling. [See the Question and Answer on watering-in, found in the Handler Activities section of this document, for additional details].

b. By Workers With No Contact -- WPS provides an exception for entry to treated areas, after any inhalation exposure level or ventilation criteria have been met, without PPE or other time limitation, when there will be no contact with the pesticide or its residues [40 CFR §170.112(b)]. Note, however, that PPE cannot be used to prevent the contact under this exception. This exception may apply to a variety of typical irrigation situations, e.g.:

-- Workers moving irrigation equipment or performing other tasks in the treated area after the pesticide was correctly soil-incorporated or injected, provided the workers do not contact the soil subsurface by digging or other activities.

-- Workers walking or performing other tasks in furrows after the pesticides are applied to the soil surface in a narrow band on beds and there is no contact with those treated surfaces.

c. Short Term -- Workers may enter treated areas during REIs to perform short-term tasks [40 CFR §170.112(c)] provided that:

1) such entry does not take place during the first four hours after application and until any inhalation exposure limits or ventilation criteria are met;

2) the entry does not involve more than one hour per day per worker;

3) the worker does not perform tasks defined in WPS to be hand labor (operating irrigation equipment is not hand labor under WPS, as stated at 40 CFR §170.3 under the definition of hand labor);

4) the worker wears the early-entry PPE specified on the pesticide labeling;

5) is correctly informed as required for early-entry workers in the WPS; and

6) all other applicable requirements of 40 CFR §170.112 are met.

d. Agricultural Emergencies -- The WPS permits early entry by workers to perform tasks including irrigation while wearing early-entry PPE, and without time limits, in response to an agricultural emergency, as defined in the regulation at 40 CFR §170.112(d).

e. EPA-Approved Exceptions -- Section 170.112(e) of WPS permits exceptions to the general prohibition on work in treated areas during REIs when EPA has approved a special exception. Exceptions may be requested of EPA as described in that section of the regulation. (February 25, 1994)

5.13 Wet plants vs. REIs

A. In the past, labels have contained statements that said that reentry could take place "when sprays have dried, dust has settled, and vapors have dispersed."

The Agency established a 12-hour minimum REI labeling requirement in the WPS for agricultural use products. In addition, individual products within the scope of WPS may bear specialized labeling that address moisture.

However, in the case of a WPS REI of x number of hours and in the absence of additional instructions regarding wet plants, the agricultural employer would not be in violation if workers enter the field when the agricultural plants are wet provided the REI specified on the label has expired.

An REI specifying after sprays have dried, dust has settled and vapors have dispersed may still appear on products not within the scope of the WPS or for uses that are not within the scope of the WPS. In this case, entry may occur only if the sprays have dried, dust has settled or vapors have dispersed. Note, for products with WPS and non-WPS uses on the label that bear both the 12-hour minimum REI and the sprays dried, dusts settled and vapors dispersed language, the label should clearly indicate which REI applies to which use. (November 7, 1994)

5.14 Potting soil in pots

A. Yes. The treated area is the area to which the pesticide was directed. In this case, the soil in the pots is the treated area. Therefore, any REI and associated requirements would continue to apply after the application. If the treated area is moved in containers, the REI and associated requirements are in effect for the treated area. (See question 14.23) (February 28, 1995)

5.15 Potting soil, movement off site

A. No. If the treated area in a pot with the crop is moved off the agricultural establishment, it is no longer covered under WPS. Therefore, no WPS requirements will apply at the new location. However, any label specific non-WPS REIs or other labeling restrictions must be met. (February 28, 1995)

5.16 Moving containers during REI

A. Yes, the container may be moved provided there is no contact with the treated area by workers. If only the soil is treated and not the pot along with the soil such as in an overhead spray, then any REI restrictions apply only to the soil which has been treated. Moving the pot without any contact with the soil would not be in violation of the REI. If plants are treated, a worker can move containers provided there is no contact with the plants or other treated surfaces, and pesticides cannot drop or drip onto the worker. If the pesticide application is directed at the container and plant, then both are considered the treated area and are subject to any REI restrictions. In either of the above situations, the notification requirements, found at 40 CFR 170.120, apply to the treated area whether it is the soil/plant or the soil/plant and pot. (February 28, 1995)

5.17 Greenhouses, spraying 12 inches from planting medium

A. Yes. (February 28, 1995)

5.18 Entry under an REI for no-contact activities

immediately

A. Yes. An unprotected worker may enter a treated area immediately after the application is finished as long as any inhalation exposure level or ventilation criteria listed on the labeling has been reached, and he will have no contact with anything that has been treated with pesticide including pesticide residues on plants, on or in the soil, in water, or in the air. (March 7, 1995)

5.19 Greenhouse applications, when does REI begin

A. The REI begins upon completion of the application. The REI and ventilation criteria are independent of each other. No person, other than a properly trained and equipped handler may enter a greenhouse until the ventilation criteria, if applicable, have been met. [See 40 CFR part 170.110(c).] (March 7, 1995)

5.20 Irrigation in arid areas

A. No. Irrigation does not affect the definition of an arid area which is defined as less than 25 inches of rainfall a year. Thus, if the REI for organophosphates is 72 hours in arid areas, a grower could not use irrigation to reduce the REI to 48 hours. (March 7, 1995)

6.1 Equivalency Issues

6.11 Protocol for state regulatory equivalency

A. The Federal worker protection standard sets a national minimum, with states permitted to set more stringent standards. While the regulation does not specifically include provisions for accepting regulatory "equivalency," we intend to use a common sense approach to assessing these issues on the basis of whether such differences should be approved if they provide equivalent or enhanced protections of workers and handlers as outlined below.

States which have their own worker protection regulations may have requirements which are: 1) identical to the Federal standard; 2) different than the Federal standard but the state requirements include strict compliance with the Federal requirements; or 3) different than the Federal standard and the state requirements do not include strict compliance with the Federal requirements but which may provide equivalent protection. Each of these scenarios are discussed below.

1.) Identical requirements - This scenario should present few, if any, problems. If questions arise regarding the interpretation of state regulations which are identical to the Federal regulations, the state should consult with the Regional office, in order to avoid conflicts between a state's interpretation of the regulation and EPA's interpretation of identical language. Issues not easily resolved should be elevated by the Regional Office to the Worker Protection Standard Interpretive Guidance Workgroup for resolution.

2.) Different requirements which include strict compliance with the Federal requirements - In this situation, the state may have different requirements which are more stringent than and which meet the Federal standard. In meeting the state requirement, a person automatically is in strict compliance with the Federal requirement. An example of this would be a state restricted entry interval (REI) of ten days imposed by state regulation (restricting entry to at least the same degree as the WPS) as compared to a Federal REI of three days. Compliance with the state REI also complies with, or exceeds, the Federal REI.

Questions which arise for this scenario usually involve whether or not a state requirement does include strict compliance with the Federal requirement. In those cases where a state is unclear as to whether or not compliance with the state requirement would include strict compliance with the Federal requirements, EPA will be available to discuss these issues with the state. Cases which cannot be resolved by the Regional Office may be elevated through the sublead Region to the Interpretive Workgroup for consideration.

3.) Different requirements which do not include strict compliance with the Federal requirements but which may provide equivalent protection - The worker protection standard does not provide for the imposition of different requirements in place of the Federal requirements. In those situations where the state has different requirements which do not include strict compliance with the Federal requirements, the Federal requirements remain in effect in that state, as do the state requirements. States may find it useful to publicize a list of those provisions under EPA's worker protection standard which are not met by complying with state law.

However, in those situations where a state wants EPA to allow such a state requirement in lieu of a Federal requirement because the state believes that the state requirement provides equivalent or better protection, the state may make such a request. The EPA could allow this through an amendment to the regulations, or through programmatic interpretive guidance, or, in certain situations, through enforcement discretion. While it is possible to grant enforcement discretion, this is not usually done except on a temporary basis when the original rulemaking did not consider and address a particular issue and a more permanent solution is anticipated through an amendment to the regulation or modification to state law.

To request the Agency to undertake rulemaking, or issue interpretive guidance, or grant enforcement discretion, a request should be submitted which addresses: (1) specific provisions in the Federal regulation and the corresponding state requirements for which the state believes its approach provides equivalent or better protection; (2) why it believes that equivalent or better protection is provided under the corresponding state requirements; (3) any facts that it believes were not considered at the time of rulemaking; (4) any other information relevant to the need for the change; and (5) the impact if the requirement is not modified. The request should be sent to the Regional Office, who should then forward it to the sublead Region for submission to the Worker Protection Standard Interpretive Guidance Workgroup. The Workgroup will review the request and present it to EPA's management for consideration. (March 29, 1993)

6.12 California's use reporting requirements

A. It is our understanding that this question deals with EPA's requirement to display application information in a central location and whether California's use reporting requirements would be considered as "equivalent." California's position is that they require records be kept by the grower and made available on request. It is our understanding that these records require the name of the pesticide. However, it is unclear whether this means the active ingredient(s) and/or the product (brand) name of the pesticide; the WPS requirements require listing the product (brand) name and active ingredient(s) of the pesticide. In addition, the California regulations do not require records on the Restricted Entry Interval (REI), as required to be displayed according to the WPS.

The issue of whether to require the display of application information as opposed to providing it on request was examined during rulemaking and responded to. Based on our understanding, the California requirement does not include displaying the information which is required under the Federal WPS. As discussed, displaying this information was considered a key element in assuring the information is easily available to workers.

As a result, California's existing requirement does not appear to fully satisfy either the WPS requirements or EPA's intent in developing the regulation. (March 29, 1993)

7.1 Exemptions/ Exceptions

7.11 Growers/owners applicability of WPS to

A. Yes, growers (owners) are personally subject to the REI provisions, entry restrictions, and PPE requirements for early entry, when using a product referencing the WPS. (March 22, 1993)

7.11.1 Exception requests, irrigation activities

A. Yes, the Agency will consider a request provided such a request is submitted pursuant to 40 CFR part 170.112(e)(1). (March 22, 1993)

7.12 Self-employed persons, applicability of WPS to

A. In general, self employed people who perform worker activities must provide themselves with the protections required for workers. However, if they qualify for the agricultural owner exemption, they are exempt from some provisions. (March 22, 1993)

7.13 Small establishments, applicability of WPS to

A. No. Except for a partial exemption for owners and their immediate families (immediate family includes only spouse, children, stepchildren, foster children, parents, stepparents, foster parents, brothers, and sisters), all agricultural establishments that use pesticides that have WPS labeling must comply with the Standard when using those products for uses within the scope of the WPS. (March 22, 1993)

7.14 Exemptions to provisions on the label

A. Your observation can best be clarified by referring to Section 156.206(b)(2) which states that "Each product shall bear the statement: "This standard contains requirements for the protection of agricultural workers on farms, forests, 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 statement on this label...about...notification to workers."

Therefore, the labeling would allow for exceptions in these cases. (March 22, 1993)

7.15 Moving contaminated irrigation equipment

A. No, they are subject to the early entry restrictions. However, note that there is a specific early entry exception called the "short term" exception for such activities. (March 22, 1993)

7.16 Wide-area public pest control programs

A. No. The exceptions at 170.12(b)(1) and 170.202(b)(1) do not extend to those cooperative programs in which the growers themselves make or arrange for pesticide applications to their crops.

WPS clearly applies to applications made under the control of an agricultural employer "on an agricultural establishment in the production of agricultural plants," regardless of whether the applications are also part of a program involving a governmental organization. Examples of such applications are boll-weevil or gypsy moth applications which the growers themselves arrange for or make. (February 24, 1994)

7.17 Immediate family exemption

A. Wholly family owned agricultural establishments must comply with the WPS. However, the revised final rule exempts owners of agricultural establishments from providing to themselves, and to members of their immediate family, some of the requirements of the rule. (40 CFR parts 170.102(c) and 170.202 (c))

The rule defines immediate family as including only spouse; children; step children; foster children; parents; stepparents; foster parents; brothers; and sisters. (40 CFR part 170.3)

In general, owners are exempted from providing themselves or members of their immediate family the following:

-safety training and information;

-providing, cleaning, and maintaining personal protective equipment;

-information at a central location;

-decontamination facilities;

-notification of pesticide applications; and

-emergency assistance.

A person does not qualify as an owner for purposes of the exemption if he/she has rented or leased out their farm, forest, nursery, or greenhouse to another person and has no part in the management of or profit/loss from the establishment (in such a case, the person to whom the establishment has been rented is considered the "owner"), or if he/she has been hired to operate a farm, forest, nursery, or greenhouse and the person who owns the property shares in the profits or losses from the property. Persons who operate, but do not own, an agricultural establishment do not qualify for the exemption.

The exemption applies to owners without regard to whether the owner has incorporated or otherwise organized for business purposes.

In situations where two or more persons own an agricultural establishment, the exemption applies to the owners if each owner is related to every other owner as an immediate family member or as an in-law. In addition, all members of each owner's immediate family are eligible for the exemption.

Exception: If owner "A" is the parent of owner "B" and the grandparent of owner "C", all three qualify for the exemption as long as they are related to every other owner in one of the eligible relationships.

For example, the exemption will be available to a brother, sister, and the sister's spouse who jointly own an agricultural establishment. The owners need not provide some of the provisions required by the rule to themselves or to the children, parents, or siblings of each owner. Technically, under a very strict reading of the rule, the children of one of the partners would be nieces or nephews of the other partner and the corporation would not be allowed the immediate family exemption. However, in this type of example, the spirit of the immediate family exemption is still being met. Similarly, the exemption will not be denied if the ownership consists of a husband, wife and the wife's parents. or consists of a parent, child and grandchild.

In other words, when an agricultural establishment is owned by more than one person, the exemption is available to the owners ONLY if each owner is related to each other owner in one of the following ways:

-spouse,

-child, stepchild, foster child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,

-parent, stepparent, foster parent, parent-in- law,

-brother, brother-in-law,

-sister, sister-in-law,

-grandparent-parent-grandchild exception explained above.

If the owners are each related to one another in one of the above specified ways, then the owners need not provide certain protections to themselves or to any member of any owner's immediate family.

In situations where all of the owners are not related in one of the above specified ways, e.g., two brothers and a neighbor; or the owners are the grandparent and grandchild when the parent of the grandchild is not also one of the owners, none of the owners qualifies for the agricultural owner exemption and each owner must provide all WPS protections to those persons not in their immediate families and to each other.

Although owners of establishments and members of their immediate family are exempt from some of the provisions of the rule, there is no reason they cannot follow those revisions and EPA encourages owners and family members to provide themselves and each other with these protections. These individuals also need to recognize that they are obligated to follow the other applicable provisions of the rule, including product-specific requirements on pesticide labeling such as restricted entry intervals (REIs) and personal protective equipment (PPE). Finally, if an owner employs both family members and non-family members to work on the agricultural establishment, the owner must provide the non-family members with all of the protections included in the rule.

NOTE: This interpretation is consistent with the exemption for family business under the Department of Labor's Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act (MSPA). (February 24, 1994)

7.18 Fire ant control/quarantine, potting soil

A. No. The WPS does apply to the treatment of potting soil for fire ant control/quarantine programs. The wide-area public pest control exception does not extend to cooperative programs in which the growers themselves make or arrange for pesticide applications. WPS applies to applications made under the control of an agricultural employer "on an agricultural establishment in the production of agricultural plants", regardless of whether the applications are also part of a program involving a governmental organization. (See the question and answer on wide-area public pest control programs, 7.16) (February 28, 1995)

7.19 Agricultural emergencies, is SLA only agency with authority to declare emergency

A. No, the State Lead Agency for pesticides is not the only agency with the authority to declare the circumstances that could cause an agricultural emergency, but it is the agency responsible for determining if compliance has occurred. (March 15, 1995)

7.20 Agricultural emergencies, who can declare one when there is no clear authority

A. If there is no separate agency with jurisdiction, the authority rests with the State Lead Agency responsible for pesticide programs. For situations where the heating or cooling system goes off in a greenhouse, the emergency arises not from the system going off but from the outside temperatures and for which the National Weather Service has jurisdiction. Thus, there is an agency with jurisdiction in such a situation. (March 15, 1995)

7.21 Agricultural emergencies, can SLA require documentation of emergency

A. The Federal WPS does not require records to document the agricultural emergency. A State may promulgate regulations under State authority to require documentation. (March 15, 1995)

7.22 Agricultural emergencies, is there a violation if workers enter and emergency does not occur

A. No, there is no violation provided all other conditions in part 170.112(d) are met. There would be a violation if the employer sends workers in after he knows the circumstances are no longer in existence. (March 15, 1995)

7.23 Agricultural emergencies, may SLA declare circumstances which constitutes an emergency

A. Yes. The State may handle the declaration of circumstances that could cause an agricultural emergency on an agricultural establishment in a number of ways. The State could declare through guidance or regulations the circumstances that could cause an agricultural emergency and for which early entry would be allowed provided the circumstances occur or are predicted to occur.

Please note that even if guidance or regulations are developed, the agricultural employer must ensure that the other requirements for this provision are also met prior to sending workers into the treated area before the end of the restricted entry interval, e.g., the agricultural emergency could not have been anticipated, the employer would suffer a substantial economic loss without entry, and that no alternative practices could have prevented or mitigated a substantial economic loss, as defined in the WPS. EPA is willing to work with the States to develop this guidance. (March 15, 1995)

7.24 Exemptions for workers entering a treated area, applicability to pesticide handlers

Q.Do the requirements/exemptions for workers entering a treated area before an REI expires set out in section 170.112 also cover pesticide handlers since they are defined in the standard as persons who apply pesticides and may have to go into fields under an REI?

A.No. Pesticide handlers (employees applying, mixing, or loading pesticides, cleaning, repairing, etc.) may enter fields during an REI provided label-specified PPE is worn and the activity being performed is a handler activity.(June 14, 1996)

8.1 Generic Requirements

8.11 Access to the 40 CFR part 170 requirements

A. It is the responsibility of the employer to comply with the regulation. However, we believe our efforts to widely disseminate information about the regulation will facilitate compliance with the requirements of the regulation.

In addition, the Agency is preparing a "How To Comply" manual, which is an "everyday English" version of the worker protection standard. This manual is designed to contain everything that an affected employer will need to know in order to comply with the 1992 WPS. GPO will print and sell the manual. Also, several private organizations have indicated they intend to print and sell copies of the manual. (March 22, 1993)

8.12 Transportation to medical facility

A. Yes, provided that a product with WPS labeling has been used and exposure to the worker could have occurred on the agricultural establishment, and there is a claim of pesticide poisoning or injury by exposure to pesticides. The Agency considers this situation to be sufficient reason to believe that the worker may have been poisoned. Thus, transportation to a medical facility needs to be made available by the agricultural employer.

Please note that while a worker's symptoms may not suggest pesticide poisoning to the employer, there are many symptoms of pesticide poisoning that could be misconstrued with the symptoms of other illnesses, e.g., the flu. (February 28, 1995)

8.13 Return transportation from medical facility

A. No. The WPS requires that the agricultural employer make available transportation from the place of employment to the medical facility. It does not require that transportation be provided back to the place of employment. (February 28, 1995)

8.14 Who pays for transportation to medical facility

A. The employer is responsible for providing transportation, which would include paying when there is a charge for transportation. (March 15, 1995)

8.15 Agricultural employer transportation requirements for migrant workers

Q.The regulations pursuant to the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (29 USC 1801 et seq.), as amended, set forth specific requirements that agricultural employers must meet before transporting migrant or seasonal agricultural workers. The regulations are apparently applicable to any employer who transports workers. The WPS requires agricultural employers to provide emergency transportation for a worker under certain circumstances. This is an apparent conflict as this may cause an employer to be in violation of the above Act if they transported a worker in a vehicle that did not meet the safety/insurance requirements set forth in the pursuant regulations. How will agricultural employers comply with the emergency transportation requirements of the WPS without violating another existing Federal regulation?

A.There is no conflict in the above mentioned regulations. Agricultural employers must comply with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations pertaining to their operations. The WPS requires agricultural employers to "make available" emergency transportation for employees under certain circumstances. An agricultural employer must also comply with other laws or regulations that may govern the transportation of workers. (June 14, 1996)

9.1 Handler Activities

9.11 Watering-in

A. When a label requires or advises watering-in of a pesticide it is considered to be part of the application. Entering a treated area to water-in when the label requires or advises it is a form of soil incorporation that may be performed at any time by trained handlers wearing the handler PPE specified for the pesticide on its labeling and provided with other handler protections. Handlers may perform such watering-in tasks in the treated area and without time limit when it is required or advised by the label. Although watering-in may be done through irrigation, it is important to note that routine irrigation of crops is not considered to be a handler task under WPS. (February 25, 1994)

9.12 Access to product labeling

A. The Agency interprets this phrase to mean that the product labeling information is accessible to the handler for reference should the handler have questions about the handling, mixing or application of the product or need to seek further information on the product. This does not mean that the handler must carry a copy of the product label. It does mean that the handler should know where to find a copy of the product label information and that the product label information is available to the handler during the time he is performing handler activities. (March 7, 1995)

10.1 Labeling Issues

10.11 Compliance with language referred to on labeling

A. The label specifically states in the Directions for Use section that users must comply with the WPS. Therefore, a violation of the WPS would be use inconsistent with the label. Thus, because we are basing enforcement of the WPS on the fact that compliance with the Standard is required by a use direction on the label, it is not material whether the WPS itself is, or is not, considered labeling. (March 22, 1993)

10.12 Old versus new label requirements

A. When using a product which does not bear the WPS reference, the label of the product being used applies and compliance with the WPS is not required. Please note that the label on the product at the time it is sold/distributed is the governing label. If products are being combined, e.g., in a tank-mix, and one product bears the WPS reference and the other does not, the more stringent requirement must be met. Following the WPS requirements in addition to the label requirements would not cause a violation. (March 22, 1993)

10.13 Sale and use of non-WPS labeled products after October 23, 1995

A. No product to which WPS applies may be sold or distributed without WPS labeling after October 23, 1995. Applying a registered pesticide for hire is not sale and distribution under FIFRA provided that the product is applied by the dealer or his employee and none is left behind for the customer. Therefore, if an applicator applies a registered non-WPS labeled pesticide after October 23, 1995, this will not constitute illegal sale and distribution of a pesticide based on its lack of WPS labeling. This is true regardless of the billing provided the product was correctly labeled prior to the required dates and is not a bulk pesticide delivered after April 21, 1993. (Bulk pesticides are subject to the dates applicable to registrants.) (March 7, 1995)

11.1 Notice of Applicaton

11.11 Premises, definitions

A. The term "premises" means the agricultural establishment. (March 22, 1993)

11.12 Oral notification

A. An oral warning must be given:

On farms, forest, or nurseries - to any worker who may be in a treated area or walk within 1/4 mile of the treated area during a pesticide application or while an REI is in effect;

In greenhouses - to any worker who may be in a greenhouse during a pesticide application there or while an REI is in effect in that greenhouse. (March 22, 1993)

11.13 Adjacent properties

A. No, the rule requires agricultural employers to notify only their own worker-employees. (March 22, 1993)

11.14 Notification of application

A. Section 170.224 of the WPS requires that specific information be provided by the handler employer to the agricultural employer about pesticide applications on the agricultural establishment before the application has taken place so that the agricultural employer can in turn provide appropriate protection to his workers and family. The Agency is aware, however, that some applicators may on occasion not be able to perform pesticide applications at a previously-scheduled time. The How-to-Comply Manual provided some flexibility on this issue, noting that "if the pesticide is not applied as scheduled, the agricultural employer must be informed of the corrected time and date of the application. Make the correction before the application takes place, or as soon as practicable thereafter." Questions have arisen concerning the notification requirements if applications do not take place as scheduled, including when and how the employer must be notified of the change.

The WPS places certain requirements upon agricultural employers. One of the most important requirements involves keeping workers out of treated areas during applications and while the REI remains in effect, and providing workers with (among other things) information, protective equipment, and decontamination supplies when they enter treated fields within thirty days of expiration of the REI. The requirement for applicators to notify agricultural employers before an application takes place must be viewed in light of its central purpose: to provide employers with information they may need in order to provide protection to agricultural employees.

The obligation of employers to assure that workers remain out of treated areas during applications and while the REI remains in effect, and to assure that proper protection are provided when workers enter treated areas within thirty days of expiration of the REI, is not affected by the notification provision; the obligation of the employer continues whether or not notification of an application occurs. The employer should therefore take whatever steps are necessary to assure that he/she is informed of an application before workers might enter treated areas.

Obviously, notification prior to application is the best means to assure that the employer has the necessary information to provide protection to his/her agricultural employees. For this reason, the WPS requires that notification take place prior to applications. Applicators are liable under the WPS if they fail to provide such notification.

EPA recognizes that there may be circumstances where an application does not take place when scheduled, and where communication between applicator and agricultural employer may be difficult to accomplish. The Agency is therefore willing to allow some rescheduled applications to go forward without requiring prior notification of the rescheduled application. This flexibility is available only in circumstances where an application has been previously scheduled (including day, date, and time) and agreed upon by the applicator and agricultural employer, the prior notification required by the WPS has been provided, and the pre-arranged application subsequently does not take place as scheduled. Notification by the handler employer to the agricultural employer of the application must occur as soon as practicable after the rescheduled application, and must occur within 24 hours of the rescheduled application.

Applicators and employers must keep in mind that the agricultural employer is still liable if employees enter fields during the REI, or within 30 days of expiration of the REI if any applicable WPS requirements are not met.

Notification must either be received by the agricultural employer before workers could be exposed to pesticide residues resulting from the application in violation of the WPS or the applicator must have notified the employer with a form of notification previously agreed upon by the applicator and agricultural employer which was reasonably calculated to get information to the employer before workers could be exposed to residues in violation of the WPS.

EPA strongly recommends that applicators and employers workout in advance between themselves how notification of regularly scheduled applications should be accomplished, under what circumstances applications may take place without prior notification if previously scheduled applications do not occur on time, and how notification of rescheduled applications should be accomplished. (February 28, 1995)

11.14.1 Notification of application, information regarding application

A. EPA recommends that the agricultural employer and the handler employer agree on a notification process that will ensure that workers will not be in an area while it is being treated or under an REI. For example, the employers could agree:

- that without prior mutual agreement, an application will never occur before the scheduled time, and

the agricultural employer will not permit workers into the area to be treated until he/she receives notification from the handler employer that:

(a) either the application will not take place until a specified future time at the earliest, or

(b) the application has taken place and specific information required by Section 170.224 is provided to the agricultural employer.

Examples of compliance:

1) An oral exchange of the required information between the handler employer and agricultural employer prior to an application would comply with the notification requirements of the WPS;

2) Leaving a complete message on a telephone answering machine prior to the application would constitute compliance if the message was actually received by the agricultural employer prior to the application.

3) Leaving a complete message on the answering machine prior to the application would constitute compliance if the handler employer and agricultural employer had agreed that by leaving a complete message on the answering machine notification could be accomplished. In this example, the handler employer would have satisfied his/her obligations under the WPS even if the message was not checked by the agricultural employer prior to the application. The employer, however, would remain responsible if workers were sent into treated areas in violation of any portion of the WPS. (February 28, 1995)

11.14.2 Notification after application

initial

of an application

A. No. There are no provisions for allowing notification after application due to difficulty in contacting the agricultural employer initially. (February 28, 1995)

11.15 What is the treated area

A. The treated area is the portion of the field where the pesticide is directed. Employers may choose to designate only the areas being treated that day or previously treated as the treated area. Areas designated as treated and still under the REI requirements need to be posted if posting is required by the product labeling or the agricultural employer chooses to use posting as the means of notifying workers working within a quarter mile of the treated area. The whole field may be posted, but the field must remain posted until the REI expires for every section of it or specific posting is done for the sections remaining under the REI. Worker entry, other than that permitted under 40 CFR part 170.112, is prohibited for the entire posted area while the fields are posted. Posting of untreated areas may be deferred until the day that treatments will occur. (February 28, 1995)

11.16 Timing of notification

A. The WPS requires in 170.224 that the information be provided by the handler employer to the agriculture employer anytime before the application takes place. (February 28, 1995)

12.1 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

12.11 Enclosed cabs

A. The Federal regulation does allow for self-certification by enclosed cab manufacturers. The Agency made this a performance based standard in order to reduce the burden to states by not requiring licensing and certification by states. States, however, can certainly be more restrictive and prohibit self-certification under state authority. (March 22, 1993)

12.12 Chemical-resistant footwear

A. This language allows the use of chemical-resistant shoes rather that requiring the use of high-top boots. Footwear with leather uppers would not be considered chemical-resistant. The entire shoe or boot must be chemical-resistant. (March 22, 1993)

12.13 Protective eyewear

A. No, the Worker Protection regulation only applies to products whose labels reference the WPS. (March 22, 1993)

12.14 Clean changes of clothes

A. The handler employer must provide one clean change of clothes at each decontamination site for use in an emergency. This change of clothes may be one-size fits all coveralls. The requirement for one clean change of clothes is not for each handler but for each site, and is irrespective of the number of handlers at the work site. (40 CFR 170.250) (March 22, 1993)

12.15 Eye protection for dilute formulation

A. The answer depends on the labeling. Products may provide separate instructions for PPE for activities involving the concentrate. If such a distinction is made, the label(ing) would state the PPE that is required for mixing and loading and also for handling activities. If the label(ing) makes no distinction, the protective eye-wear listed on the label(ing) must be worn for all handling activities involving either the diluted or undiluted product. (February 28, 1995)

12.16 Disposal of drenched clothing

A. Drenched clothing may have to be disposed of according to RCRA regulations. The requirements depends on the individual circumstances. Appropriate State hazardous waste officials should be contacted for information on specific requirements. (March 7, 1995)

12.17 Applicability of enclosed cab restrictions

A. Yes, the prohibition applies assuming that the application equipment in question is referring to the enclosed cab exception provision under the rule, [section 170.240(d)5]. If the mixers and loaders are driving application equipment, they are subject to the same requirements as the applicator regarding the enclosed cab and PPE. (March 7, 1995)

12.18 Enclosed cabs, exiting cab for no-contact activity

A. During the application, the applicator must wear the PPE required on the label(ing). Handlers must wear PPE when leaving the cab only if they will contact pesticide-treated surfaces in the treated area or if label specific prohibitions apply. They may leave the cab for a rest stop or other reason (other than handling pesticides) without wearing PPE if they will not be in contact with pesticide-treated surfaces in the treated area. The applicator may leave the cab and walk away from the just-treated area without PPE. (March 7, 1995)

12.19 Storage of PPE "apart" and "away"

A. The objective for this provision is to assure that clean PPE and personal clothing will not come in contact with pesticide residues. As long as the employer can assure that changing of clothes and storage of PPE occurs in an area separate from pesticide storage and use areas (including mixing and loading) so that these activities will not result in personal clothing or PPE coming into contact with pesticide residues, then the employer has met the criteria for "apart" and "away."

Ideally, this requirement may be met by providing a separate room for storage of PPE and changing activities; but there are a number of other ways of achieving compliance provided that pesticide residues do not come into contact with the PPE or personal clothing such as storing PPE in sealed containers. (March 7, 1995)

12.20 Heat stress; prevention when wearing PPE

Q.The requirement that employees wear PPE during application and the REI might pose a greater health risk from heat stress than pesticides themselves. How will this be handled?

NOTE: Entry during an REI is permitted only in strictly limited circumstances/exceptions. (June 14, 1996)

13.1 Posting signs/Display of Information

13.11 Modifications to posting signs

A. States cannot modify the WPS required elements of the signs. However, additional information such as the name of the pesticide and the date of application may appear on the warning sign if it does not detract from the appearance of the sign or change the meaning of the required information. Please note that this issue was considered during the rulemaking process and is addressed in the Response to Comments Document prepared by EPA. (See excerpt from "Worker Protection Standards: A Summary of the Public's Comments and the Agency's Response."). (March 22, 1993)

13.12 Colors of the posting signs

A. White is not necessarily required, although the background color must contrast with red, which is required for the inner circle. Two-colored signs could meet the requirements as long as red were one of the colors. Therefore, red could be the only color on a white background provided the other requirements regarding contrast, legibility, etc. outlined in the rule are met. (March 22, 1993)

13.13 Language requirements on signs

A. No, the application information provisions of section 170.122 and the safety poster information in section 170.135 do not need to be in a second language. Note, however, the EPA produced safety poster will be in English and Spanish. (March 22, 1993)

13.14 Posting signs location requirements

A. (First question) Yes, whenever workers or handlers employed by the agricultural establishment are anywhere on that establishment, certain information must be displayed.

(Second question) No, it does not necessarily apply only to contiguous property. It applies anytime they are anywhere on the agricultural stablishment. (March 22, 1993)

13.15 Method of display of application information

A. WPS requires that the information on applications be accessible, legible, and displayed in a central location on the farm, or in the nursery or greenhouse (or in or near a forest, where workers or handlers are likely to congregate or pass by) "where it can be readily seen and read" by workers [40 CFR §§170.122 and 170.135] and handlers [40 CFR §§170.222 and 170.235]. It also requires that workers and handlers be informed of the location and allowed access to it. EPA used the word "display" to indicate that this access must be unrestricted in that it need not be requested. However, any manner of display that meets these criteria is acceptable, including such approaches as page-on-page lists stapled at the top and use of devices such as clipboards or binders. (February 25, 1994)

13.16 Posting after containers have been sold

A. Yes, the application list must be displayed for at least 30 days after the expiration of REI (or, if there is no REI, for at least 30 days after the end of the application), or until workers are no longer on the establishment, whichever is earlier. It is acceptable to note on the list that the treated area (treated plants/soil) is no longer on the agricultural establishment. (February 28, 1995)

13.17 Pesticide application list, harvested crops

A. Yes. The list of applications posted at the central location would have to be displayed for at least 30 days after the end of the restricted-entry interval (or, if there is no restricted-

entry interval, for at least 30 days after the end of the

application) or at least until workers are no longer on the establishment. If another crop is planted within the 30-day period, the list of applications to the previous crop would still have to be displayed as well as any information on pesticide application to the new crop. (February 28, 1995)

13.18 Pesticide application list, non-WPS labeled product

A. No. He is required to list only applications of WPS-labeled products. Nonetheless, the Agency encourages growers to display information on all applications as a matter of providing protection to the workers. (February 28, 1995)

13.19 Posting of private forest land

A. The fact that the public enters does not trigger the WPS requirement for posting. The WPS does prohibit an agricultural employer from allowing any person to remain in the area during the pesticide application.

In addition, there are specific labeling statements which prohibit the application of the product in such a manner that will contact persons either directly or through drift. Also, there may be non-WPS label specific or additional state or local requirements that are applicable. (March 7, 1995)

13.20 Posting areas with unlimited entry points

A. The rule requires that signs be visible at all usual points of worker entry, including at least each access road, each border with any labor camp adjacent to the treated area, and each footpath and other walking route that enters the treated area. If there are many usual points of entry, then signs must be visible from all usual points of entry. When there are no usual points of worker entry, signs must be posted in the corners of the treated area or a location affording maximum visibility. In areas where there are unlimited points of entry, the agricultural employer must determine the usual points of entry and make signs visible from those points of entry. (March 7, 1995)

13.21 Central posting, large or non-contiguous sites

A. The rule requires that certain information (30-day listing of pesticide applications and associated REI's, safety poster, and emergency medical care information) must be displayed in a central location on the agricultural establishment, in a place accessible to workers and handlers. EPA anticipated that there would be one central posting location on the agricultural establishment. However, if because of the size of the establishment or the separate nature of the workforce, there is not one central location that is accessible to all workers, then an employer will need more than one central posting to comply with the accessibility requirement in the rule. By accessible, EPA means that the information must be in a location where it can be readily seen and read and must be unrestricted in that it need not be requested. (March 15, 1995)

13.22 Updating central posting information

A. To meet the requirement of the regulations, the central posting information must remain reasonably accurate during the 30 days after the REI, or if none, for 30 days after the application, so that a worker will be able to determine which pesticides may be present in areas he will enter. Meeting this performance standard can be accomplished in a number of ways, including: 1) updating the information; or 2) providing the initial information in such a way that it addresses any likely changes to the location of the treated area (the pots); or 3) in addition to providing the initial location of the pesticide application, referring in the posting to markings or to other identifiers on/with the pots that remain with them as they move; or 4) in some other systematic manner that the employer chooses to use to assure that the information remains reasonably accurate. This list of examples is not exhaustive. (March 15, 1995)

13.23 Use of smaller signs

Q.The WPS Rule states that the warning sign shall be at least 14 inches by 16 inches in size, and the letters shall be at least 1 inch in height unless a smaller sign and smaller letters are necessary because the treated area is too small to accommodate a sign of this size. The example provided in the How-to-Comply Manual is when a single potted plant needs posting. Are there other circumstances in which smaller warning signs can be used?

14.1 Scope

14.11 Persons other than workers, and WPS

A. The language of the rule (170.110(b) and (c)) clearly states that the restrictions on entry associated with applications in nurseries and greenhouses apply to any persons, other than an appropriately trained and equipped handler. This means it applies to non-workers as well as workers. (March 22, 1993)

14.12 Prisons, coverage by WPS

A. There is nothing in WPS that exempts prisons from the duty to comply with WPS. WPS protections must be provided to pesticide handlers and agricultural workers any time a pesticide product bearing WPS labeling is used on an agricultural establishment in the commercial or research production of agricultural plants. Whether a particular prison meets the definition of an agricultural employer or handler employer or is an agricultural establishment engaged in the commercial or research production of agricultural plants will have to be established on a case-by-case basis, as will whether a prisoner is an agricultural worker or pesticide handler. Factors to be considered include whether the prisoner is receiving any form of compensation and whether the production of agricultural plants is for commercial or research purposes.

Regardless of the determination of whether the prison is an agricultural or handler employer or is an agricultural establishment, EPA encourages that prisoners be afforded the WPS protections. (November 17, 1993)

14.12.1 Prisons, responsibility for providing WPS protections

A. Prison facilities that are agricultural employers or handler employers must provide WPS protections to each prisoner who is an agricultural worker or pesticide handler. The prison must require each person who supervises any prisoner-worker or prisoner-handler to assure that the prisoner-worker or prisoner-handler receives the protections required by WPS. These protections include providing:

- Information at a central location,

- Notice to workers about applications and entry restrictions,

- Instructions to handlers and early-entry workers,

- Pesticide safety training,

- Personal Protective Equipment (including its maintenance),

- Decontamination facilities, and

- Emergency assistance.

When a prisoner is performing tasks as an agricultural worker or pesticide handler on an agricultural establishment that is NOT owned by the prison, the owner of the agricultural establishment also has WPS responsibilities towards the prisoner.

--Prisoner-handlers: When the prisoner is performing handler tasks, the owner of the agricultural establishment must assure that, if the prison is acting as a commercial pesticide handling establishment, the prison is aware of the specific information about applications and entry restrictions on the agricultural establishment. That allows the prison to provide their prisoner-handlers with the information.

--Prisoner-workers: When the prisoner is performing worker tasks, the owner of the agricultural establishment is jointly responsible with the prison (both are agricultural employers) for assuring that the prisoner-workers are provided all of the required WPS protections. This is no different than any agricultural establishment/labor contractor arrangement. (November 17, 1993)

14.13 Educational facilities, coverage by WPS

Q. Are educational facilities subject to the requirements of the WPS?

A. There is nothing in WPS that exempts educational facilities from the duty to comply with WPS. WPS protections must be provided to pesticide handlers and agricultural workers any time a pesticide product bearing WPS labeling is used on an agricultural establishment in the commercial or research production of agricultural plants. Whether a particular educational facility meets the definition of an agricultural employer or handler employer or is an agricultural establishment engaged in the commercial or research production of agricultural plants will have to be established on a case-by-case basis, as will whether a student is an agricultural worker or pesticide handler. Factors to be considered include whether the student is receiving any form of compensation and whether the production of agricultural plants is for commercial or research proposes. The Agency intends compensation to be interpreted broadly.

Regardless of the determination of whether the educational institution is an agricultural or handler employer or is an agricultural establishment, EPA encourages that students be afforded the WPS protections. (November 17, 1993)

14.13.1 Educational facilities, responsibility for providing WPS protections (continued)

A. Educational facilities that are agricultural employers or handler employers must provide WPS

protections to each student who is an agricultural worker or pesticide handler. The educational facility must require each person who supervises any student-worker or student-handler to assure that the student-worker or student-handler receives the protections required by WPS. These protections include providing:

- Information at a central location,

- Notice to workers about applications and entry restrictions,

- Instructions to handlers and early-entry workers,

- Pesticide safety training,

- Personal Protective Equipment (including its maintenance),

- Decontamination facilities, and

- Emergency assistance.

When a student is performing tasks as an agricultural worker or pesticide handler on an agricultural establishment that is NOT owned by the educational facility, the owner of the agricultural establishment also has WPS responsibilities towards the student.

--Student-handlers: When the student is performing handler tasks, the owner of the agricultural establishment must assure that, if the educational facility is acting as a commercial pesticide handling establishment, the educational facility is aware of the specific information about applications and entry restrictions on the agricultural establishment. That allows the educational facility to provide their student-handlers with the information.

--Student-workers: When the student is performing worker tasks, the owner of the agricultural establishment is jointly responsible with the educational facility (both are agricultural employers) for assuring that the student-workers are provided all of the required WPS protections. This is no different than any agricultural establishment/labor contractor arrangement. (November 17, 1993)

14.13.2 Educational facilities, coverage by WPS, compensation

A. The WPS does not define compensation and the Agency intends that compensation should be interpreted very broadly. Stipends or reductions in education costs received as compensation for worker or handler tasks performed would be considered compensation. Academic credit alone may be considered compensation in situations where students are engaged in worker or handler activities and for which compensation is normally paid or anticipated. There are also situations where students may be in a treated area when they are not subject to the WPS, such as on a field trip or observing a class demonstration. (November 17, 1993)

14.14 Sod/turf growing establishments

A. Yes, agricultural establishments that grow sod/turf for commercial or research purposes are covered by the WPS.

As defined in 40 CFR part 170.3, agricultural plant means any plant grown or maintained for commercial or research purposes and includes, but is not limited to, food, feed, and fiber plants; trees; turfgrass; flowers, shrubs; ornamentals; and seedlings.

An agricultural establishment growing sod/turf may be a greenhouse, a nursery, or a farm. When sod/turf is grown outdoors, the purpose for which the sod/turf is grown determines whether the agricultural establishment is a nursery or farm. Sod/turf growing establishments are considered to be nurseries if the sod/turf is grown for commercial or research purposes and is to be used in its entirety in another location. Sod/turf growing establishments that are not nurseries and that are growing sod/turf outdoors for commercial or research purposes, for example, for seed production, are considered to be farms. (November 17, 1993)

14.15 Trustee management of an agricultural establishment

A. Whether a bank or any other holder of a trust of an agricultural establishment is subject to the requirements of the WPS depends on the degree of control the bank or other trustee exercises over the activities on the agricultural establishment.

Under the WPS, an agricultural employer is defined as "any person who hires, or contracts for, the services of workers, for any type of compensation to perform activities related to the production of agricultural plants, or any person who is an owner of, or is responsible for, the management of an establishment that uses such workers." (40 CFR 170.3)

Under FIFRA, a "person" is defined as any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or any organized group of persons, whether incorporated or not. Therefore, a holder of a trust for an agricultural establishment is considered to be a "person" under FIFRA.

A bank or other holder of a trust may also be considered an "owner" of an agricultural establishment unless the bank or other trustee has both leased the agricultural establishment to another person and granted that person full authority to manage and govern the use of that agricultural establishment.

WPS defines owner as "any person who has a present possessory interest (fee, leasehold, rental, or other) in an agricultural establishment covered by this part. A person who has both leased such agricultural establishment to another person and granted that same person the right and full authority to manage and govern the use of such agricultural establishment is not an owner for purposes of this part." (40 CFR 170.3)

A "handler employer" is any employer who is self-employed as a handler or who employs any handler, for any type of compensation. (40 CFR 170.3)

In summary, a bank, or other trustee, that owns or operates an agricultural establishment is considered to be a person under FIFRA, and depending on the degree of control exercised over the activities on an agricultural establishment, could be considered to be a handler employer or agricultural employer for purposes of the WPS. (November 17, 1993)

14.16 Retail establishments, coverage by WPS

A. Yes, whenever pesticides bearing WPS labeling are employed for WPS-covered uses in such establishments.

EPA addressed this in the record of the WPS rule development. However, there have been some questions about the WPS definitions of greenhouses and nurseries as any "operation engaged in the ... production of agricultural plants." It has been argued that maintenance of a plant for sale is distinct from production and that, therefore, retail operations are not subject to WPS. This is not the position taken by the Agency for purposes of the WPS. In developing the rule, EPA concluded it would not be useful to define production in such a way as to exclude maintenance of plants, whether or not they are being held for sale. In part, this is because such a distinction is difficult to make. For example, while dormant, plants in a "production" orchard are not then growing, while potted plants "held" for retail sale surely are. It was in recognition of this that EPA defined agricultural plants in the WPS as "any plant grown or maintained for commercial or research purposes." In effect, EPA defined production to include maintenance of living plants.

Moreover, when WPS-labeled pesticides are used in such maintenance, the types of worker and handler exposure to them are no different than in non-retail establishments. Therefore, there was no reason to exclude retail establishments on the basis of potential occupational risk. On the other hand, since most purely retail establishments may be expected to hold plants only briefly, pesticide use may be infrequent. In addition, EPA expects that when treatment in such establishments does occur, it will commonly involve pesticides that are unlikely to bear WPS labeling. As a result, EPA expects this question to arise only rarely in practice.

This interpretation is for purposes of the WPS and is not intended to impact other regulations, such as the Certification and Training regulations. (November 17, 1993)

14.17 Agricultural employer, liability when crop is owned by someone other than grower

A. The grower and the packing house management are both agricultural employers under WPS in this situation and therefore have joint responsibility for ensuring compliance with any WPS entry restrictions, training, decontamination or other requirements applicable to the field in which the harvesting takes place. In regard to the liability for individual cases, the Agency will look at the facts of the specific case.

The WPS definition of agricultural employer is broad because the Agency sought to avoid circumstances in which confusion about responsibility could lead to failures to adequately protect workers. The definition covers BOTH owners/managers of agricultural establishments AND employers of agricultural workers. Thus, in addition to those responsible for the management of the agricultural establishment, the packing house is a responsible agricultural employer in the same way that a labor contractor would be. For further discussion on liability, attached are the following references: 1) "The Worker Protection Standard: A Summary of the Public's Comments and the Agency's Response," section D., "Comments on Definitions;" and 2) "The Worker Protection Standard," page 38135, comment number 8.

Reference Number 1: "The Worker Protection Standard: A Summary of the Public's Comments and the Agency's Response," section D., "Comments on Definitions."

Employer. In keeping with the use of the employment relationship to assign primary responsibility for protection of agricultural workers in the final rule, a definition of "agricultural employer" has been added to subpart A. This definition is intended to encompass all employers of workers who may be exposed to pesticides while engaged in agricultural-plant activities. The definition of "handler employer" has also been added to subpart A. The definitions are derived from the definition of "employer" in the NPRM.

Persons falling under the definitions of "agricultural employer" are responsible for the requirements of subpart B. In some cases the employer of agricultural workers also will be an employer of workers who handle pesticides ("handler employer") and therefore responsible for the requirement of subpart C (for employer, if the same grower hires both fieldworkers and handlers, or if the same worker is hired to handle pesticides and to perform other agricultural activities.)

The definition of agricultural employer is intended to include persons who have (1) a position of ownership, management or control within an agricultural establishment, i.e. a farm, forest, nursery or greenhouse; or (2) an employment relationship to agricultural workers. The relevant positions of control identified in the definition include ownership of the establishment (e.g., a farm owner); management of the operation (e.g., a farm operator); and recruiting or furnishing workers for the operation (e.g., a labor contractor).

Reference 2: "The Worker Protection Standard," page 38135, comment number 8.

Comment # 8: Making agricultural producers responsible for employees' own safety actions is unrealistic.

Response: While compliance is primarily a duty of employers under the final rule, enforcement officials have authority to consider the facts of the case before making a determination of whether a violation has occurred. The Agency agrees, for example, that it would be unfair for employers who expend considerable efforts to assure compliance to be treated in the same manner as less conscientious employers who tolerate encourage noncompliance. However, the Agency believes that it is more appropriate not to intrude by regulation into this area. Enforcement officials have traditionally based their compliance decisions on the facts of an individual case. (November 17, 1993)

14.18 Seed treatments

A. If a product has a WPS reference Statement, and the seed is being treated at an agricultural establishment at or immediately before planting (such as through use of hopper boxes, planter boxes, slurry boxes, or tractor-mounted treaters), WPS applies. If any of these criteria are not met, WPS does not apply. (February 28, 1995)

14.19 Plants grown for research

A. Yes. The WPS must be complied with in the situation outlined above. The WPS applies to plants grown for research purposes, and it does not matter whether the research is to study the effects of pesticides on plants or for some other purpose. WPS protections must be provided to pesticide handlers and agricultural workers any time a pesticide product bearing WPS labeling is used on an agricultural establishment engaged in the commercial or research production of agricultural plants. (February 28, 1995)

14.20 Contracts, liability

A. No. An employer may not contract away liability. In the event of a violation of the requirements of the WPS, the Agency would weigh the facts of the case to determine who was responsible for the violations and charge the responsible party or parties with the violation. (February 28, 1995)

14.21 Planting treated seed

A. For the purposes of the WPS, planting treated seed is not considered a pesticide application and does not trigger WPS handler or worker protections. If, however, seed is treated with a pesticide on an agricultural establishment at or immediately before planting, the WPS applies. See other seed treatment questions and answers. (February 28, 1995)

14.22 Potting soil mixtures, applicability

A. No. The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) does not apply to a product that is not applied on the agricultural establishment in the production of an agricultural plant. However, there may be other labeling provisions that are not specific to WPS that apply. Potting soil treated on a non-agricultural establishment or by a farm, nursery, greenhouse or forest is subject to the labeling provisions of the pesticide product used to treat the soil. Therefore, any label specific non-WPS restricted entry interval (REI) or other labeling restrictions must be met. (February 28, 1995)

14.23 Potting soil mixtures, requirements to meet

A. The WPS does apply when potting soil is treated with a pesticide product on an agricultural establishment and that potting soil is used on that agricultural establishment in the production of an agricultural plant as defined in the WPS.

In this case, the treated potting mix is the treated area, and the REI would apply to the potting mix. The REI would begin when the application is completed.

Mechanical filling of pots or mechanical planting of seeds or plants may take place prior to the expiration of the restricted entry interval; however, workers may not come into contact with the treated soil unless they meet the exceptions as provided for in the WPS Rule. (February 28, 1995)

14.24 Conservation Reserve Program land, coverage by WPS

A. If the land is not used in the production of an agricultural plant, for research or commercial purposes, the WPS does not apply. CRP plantings that are not expected to be harvested would be expected to fall outside the scope of WPS. Any pesticide applications made in preparation for planting an agricultural plant or to an agricultural plant that is intended to be harvested will be subject to the WPS regulation. (February 28, 1995)

14.25 Volunteers, coverage by WPS

A. A volunteer is not considered a worker under the definition in 40 CFR part 170.3 unless they receive some form of compensation. Regardless of whether compensation is provided, the Agency encourages that volunteers be afforded the WPS protections. (February 28, 1995)

14.26 Workers hired over 30 days after application

A. No, he does not have to provide either if no worker enters an area to which a pesticide has been applied or for which no REI has been in effect within the last 30 days. (March 7, 1995)

14.27 Persons stepping up nursery stock

A. The WPS does not use the term nurserymen in terms of its applicability; the WPS would apply to nurserymen if they meet the definition of either workers, handlers, agricultural employers, or handler employers. Persons stepping up stock (repotting) without applying a pesticide are workers. (March 7, 1995)

14.28 Are grower cooperatives establishments

A. It depends on the activities of the cooperative. The cooperative may be an agricultural establishment or a commercial pesticide handling establishment, if it meets the definition in the regulation. The cooperative may also be an agricultural employer or handler employer. (March 7, 1995)

14.29 Persons carrying nursery stock

A. Yes. The person that carries nursery stock is considered a worker if he is employed by the agricultural establishment. Carrying plants is a worker task. (March 7, 1995)

14.30 Persons selling produce from home gardens

A. Yes, such persons are covered by the WPS if they use a pesticide with the WPS statement on the label in the production of the produce being sold. The exception for home gardens does not apply when the produce is produced for commercial purposes.

Note, if the person does not employ workers or handlers and only he or his immediate family as defined in the rule are performing the work, only certain requirements apply. (See question 7.17 of IGW Q & A Document.) (March 7, 1995)

14.31 Employees of landfills

A. No, sanitary landfills are not covered under the WPS. (March 7, 1995)

14.32 Garden clubs, coverage by WPS

A. Yes. The garden club is an agricultural employer if (1) it hires or contracts for the services of workers, for any type of compensation, to perform activities related to the production of agricultural plants; or (2) if it is an owner of or is responsible for the management or condition of an agricultural establishment that uses such workers.

However, the garden club is not an agricultural employer if the only persons working in the garden club in production of agricultural plants are uncompensated volunteers. (March 7, 1995)

14.33 Workers not involved in production of agricultural plants, coverage by WPS

A. No, they are not covered as workers or handlers. Examples of employees not normally considered agriculture workers or handlers under WPS would include but not limited to office employees, truck drivers, mechanics, road workers, surveyors and any other workers not engaged in worker/handler activities. However, note that some provisions of the WPS require protections for persons other than workers and handlers. Some requirements apply to all persons some apply to persons engaged in repairing, cleaning or adjusting application equipment or those who clean or launder pesticide contaminated PPE. Please refer to Section 170.110, 170.234, and 170.240 for further information. (March 7, 1995)

14.34 Production of agricultural plants for other than direct sale

A. There is no exception for agricultural plants produced for other than direct sale, i.e., in-house use. The WPS covers an agricultural establishment if (1) a WPS-labeled agricultural pesticide is used on the establishment, (2) workers or handlers are employed by or on the agricultural establishment, (3) the establishment is a farm, forest, nursery, or greenhouse, as defined in the WPS, and (4) the establishment or the activity is not covered by one of the exceptions specifically described in the rule, Section 170.102 (b).

For instance, the following operations are covered by the WPS: Production of hay or feed grown for livestock on dairy farms, cattle ranches, or other livestock operations; sod farms, greenhouses, or nurseries operated by golf courses; and greenhouses and nurseries operated by theme parks, hotel chains, botanical gardens, and state and local governments. (Note: Pasture and rangeland used for grazing are excluded.) (March 15, 1995)

14.35 Employees working for a packing shed, coverage by WPS

Q. Are employees working for a packing shed covered by the WPS?

14.36 Day haulers, coverage by WPS

Q. Must day haulers -- an operation that transports workers to the agricultural establishment -- comply with the WPS, i.e., are day haulers agricultural employers?

14.37 Are researchers considered workers or handlers

Q. Agricultural research involving pesticides may often necessitate researchers and research assistants to enter pesticide treated areas before applicable REIs have expired to collect data and/or samples for analysis. Given that research uses of registered pesticides (i.e., use according to the label) are covered under the WPS, would researchers entering treated areas before the expiration of the REI be considered workers or handlers?

14.38 Field transplant operations, coverage by WPS

Q. Several field agricultural crops are grown using transplants from nursery seedbeds. Most current agricultural practice involves the transplants being set into the ground concurrent with an at-plant pesticide application. Such transplant operations usually are accomplished using the following two methods: (1) manual transplanting with concurrent pesticide application where the employees plant the seedlings in advance of the spray-rig, with the spray-rig following behind applying the pesticide; or (2) mechanical transplant/application process where equipment is a combination planting apparatus and spray-rig on which employee(s) sit and feed seedlings into the planting arm or wheel (depending on the equipment) which mechanically sets plants into ground while at the same time a pesticide is applied. Additionally, there may be an employee following the rig to assure that the planter/spray-rig is operating and setting the plants in properly. NOTE: There are several variations of these transplant type operations where planting occurs at the same time as pesticide applications (dip solutions, etc.). How will these transplant operations be treated under the WPS?

For field transplant operations such as those described in number one above (1), the employees are considered workers since they are solely performing hand-labor tasks as transplanters and are not involved in the pesticide application itself. As such, they may not enter or remain in a treated area during the application of a pesticide. If the workers can keep in front of the treated area (that area to where the pesticide is being directed or has been directed) and the employer and handler assure that the workers do not come into contact with the pesticide or pesticide treated surfaces while transplanting (directly or through drift), then the operation would not constitute a WPS violation. It is the employer's responsibility to notify the workers of the pesticide application and to assure that the workers who are transplanting seedlings constantly remain in front or outside of the treated area.

For field transplant operations that occur concurrently with pesticide application such as those described in number two above (2), and for similar pesticide applications combined with another agricultural operation which may require additional employees to operate the supplemental equipment (at-plant seed treatments, etc.), the Agency views the entire operation to be part of a "pesticide application process." Therefore, the employees will be considered handlers and are not subject to restrictions associated with remaining outside of the treated area. However, all employees taking part in such a transplant operation must be trained and equipped as handlers, including those following the rig as described in the question above. These employees may not perform tasks in the treated area other than those described above or otherwise allowed by the regulation.

NOTE: In addition, it is the employer's responsibility to comply with other applicable rules and provisions, e.g., the notification requirements and nurseries.
(June 14, 1996)

15.1 Training

15.11 Training verification card

A. The employer must make sure the worker receives training if he/she is not sure the worker has been trained already. However, no documentation of training by the worker is required by the Standard. To assist the employer in verifying whether the training has occurred, EPA is defining a voluntary training verification system which may incorporate the issuance of a card upon completion of training. (March 22, 1993)

15.12 Exceptions to training requirements

each

A. (First question) Until October 20, 1997, workers must be trained before they accumulate more than 15 separate days of entry into treated areas on a single agricultural establishment where within the past 30 days, a pesticide has been applied or a restricted-entry interval imposed by the label has been in effect. The accumulation of the 15 days accrues independently at each establishment. These 15 days need not be consecutive and may occur over several periods of employment or over several seasons or years.

(Second question) No, once a worker has received training, the worker need not be retrained for 5 years, but each employer must assure that the worker has been trained. (March 22, 1993)

15.12.1 Issuance of training verification cards

A. The training verification program, which will include use of a training verification card, is being developed by EPA with participation by representatives from the Regions, States, training experts, worker advocacy groups, industry groups and grower groups. The details of the training verification program will be announced in the future. The issue of who will approve/issue the EPA Worker Protection Standard verification card will be addressed at that time. (March 22, 1993)

15.13 Additional training for certified applicators

A. No. The handler employer or agricultural employer is not required to provide pesticide safety training to workers or handlers who are certified applicators for areas he knows were not covered during the certified applicator training. (February 28, 1995)

15.14 40 CFR section 170.234(c)(2,3); do requirements herein constitute a training program

A. No, the requirements under the above section are not considered a training program. Compliance would be accomplished by following section 170.234 (c)(1,2,3). Specifically, before allowing any other person besides a handler to repair the equipment, the handler employer must remove pesticide residues. If removal is not feasible, the employer must inform the repairman that the equipment is contaminated, that pesticide exposure has the potential to produce harmful effects, and about the correct way to handle the contaminated equipment.

This provision does not contradict the definition of handler because handlers, unlike outside repairmen, are employed by an agricultural stablishment or commercial pesticide handling establishment. For pesticide handlers repairing, cleaning, or adjusting equipment, the employer has to instruct the handler in the safe operation of equipment for mixing, loading, transferring, or applying pesticide, including, when relevant, chemigation safety and drift avoidance. (June 14, 1996)

16.1 Enforcement and Liability

16.11 Guidance to States; determining recipient of WPS enforcement actions

A. EPA issued guidance on February 13, 1995, entitled "Summary Guidance on Issuance of WPS Enforcement Actions". In that document, EPA recommended that a common sense, case-by-case approach be used in determining the appropriate recipient(s) of a WPS enforcement action. To provide further clarification and assistance in determining the appropriate recipients, the Agency recommended that State Lead Agencies consider the following ten (10) factors:

1) Who has control over pesticide use;
2) Who directs pesticide use;
3) Who has control over the agricultural establishment for posting and other WPS-related responsibilities;
4) Who gives direction on the agricultural establishment for posting and other WPS-related responsibilities;
5) Who has control over the practices used by agricultural workers on the establishment;
6) Who directs the practices used by agricultural workers on the establishment;
7) Measures taken to comply with provisions of the WPS;
8) Actions taken in response to incidents of noncompliance;
9) History of prior violations; and
10) Ability to assure continuing compliance with the WPS.
(June 14, 1996)

16.12 Responsibility for agricultural workers brought in by labor contractor

A. The agricultural establishment owner, operators and employers, including labor contractors, are jointly responsible for providing training and other WPS protections to workers, and for ensuring compliance with WPS requirements. The agricultural owner, operator and employer, including labor contractors, each may be liable for a given WPS violation. During WPS implementation, EPA recommends that a common sense, case-by-case approach be used in determining the appropriate recipient(s) of a WPS enforcement action as referenced in question 16.11. Documentation by agricultural owners/operators/employers could assist them in demonstrating to State regulatory officials their efforts to comply and their responses to instances of noncompliance. (June 14, 1996)

16.13 Employer responsibility for compliance in chain of command

A.The WPS, at section 170.3, defines agricultural employer as any person who hires or contracts for the services of workers, for any type of compensation, to perform activities related to the production of agricultural plants, or any person who is an owner of or is responsible for the management or condition of an agricultural establishment that uses such workers. Thus, any person meeting this definition must assure that workers are provided WPS protections and may be liable in the event protections are not provided. The Agency identified 10 factors to guide the States in determining the appropriate recipient(s) of an enforcement action as referenced in question 16.11. (June 14, 1996)

16.14 Employer liability under WPS if workers claim not to have been trained in some WPS requirements

A. The employer would not be liable for WPS training violations if the training meets the requirements of the WPS at section 170.130. The adequacy of worker training is determined by the factors set out in section 170.130(c)(4). EPA cannot address civil liability. No specific time limit is established by the rule; the contents of the training must include the requirements in section 170.130.
(June 14, 1996)

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