The EPA has revised the agricultural Worker Protection Standard and expanded the regulation to provide new worker protections similar to other industries.
Among other new protections, it now includes annual mandatory training to inform farmworkers on the protections afforded to them through the standard. Formerly, this training was required only once every 5 years.
Other new requirements include:
- A new minimum age of 18 years for workers who handle pesticides
- New posting requirements for pesticide applications and safety data sheets
- Changes in personal protective equipment requirements consistent with DOL’s
standards for ensuring respirators are effective - Application-specific pesticide records, as well as records of farmworker training,
must now be retained for two years.
Most of the rule revisions have been effective since January 2, 2017.
For more information, check out the links below:
New EPA Worker Protection Standard Posting
Text of the New Worker Protection Standard
Quick Reference Guide to the Worker Protection Standard (pdf)
