How to Comply with the 2015 Revised Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides

What Owners and Employers Need to Know

From the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Why Is the Information in this Manual Important?

It is a violation of federal law to use a pesticide product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. When you use a pesticide product with labeling that refers to the Worker Protection Standard (WPS), you must comply with the requirements of the federal WPS (Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40, Part 170). If you do not comply with the WPS requirements, you will be using a pesticide product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling and will be in violation of federal law.

This manual provides information to help you comply with the requirements of the federal WPS for agricultural pesticides as originally published in 1992, amended in 1995, 1996 and 2004, and revised in 2015. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may issue additional guidance about the WPS and may amend the WPS in the future. Check with your state or tribal agency responsible for pesticide enforcement for further information and current amendments.

This updated manual, “How to Comply with the 2015 Revised Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides,” EPA 735-B-16-001 supersedes the EPA 735-B-05-002 manual and all previous versions. Changes to the Worker Protection Standard have made the 2005 version obsolete. Any continued use of outdated manuals may lead an employer to be out of compliance with this regulation.

Do You Need to Read this Manual?

The WPS may apply to you if you use a WPS-labeled pesticide product on an agricultural establishment in the production of agricultural plants and you are any one of the following:

• The owner or a person responsible for the management of an agricultural establishment that employs workers or handlers.
• The owner of a family-owned agricultural establishment where you and/ or your immediate family members are the only people who work on the establishment.
• The owner or a person responsible for the management of a commercial (for-hire) pesticide handling establishment.
• A pesticide handler.
• A crop advisor.

This WPS "How to Comply" Manual Will:

•  Help you determine whether you need to comply with the WPS.
•  Give you detailed information on how to comply with the WPS requirements, including exemptions, exceptions, restrictions, options and examples.
•  Provide you with a “Quick Reference Guide” — a simplified route to compliance that focuses on the basic WPS requirements (excluding exemptions, exceptions, etc.).
•  Explain how important definitions affect your WPS responsibilities.
•  Provide other special notes to help you better understand the WPS requirements and how they apply to you.

How to Comply with the 2015 Revised Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides is available to view and download from the EPA.