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Worker Protection Standard (WPS)

Aimed to reduce the risk of pesticide poisoning and injury among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers.

EPA's Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is aimed at reducing the risk of pesticide poisoning and injury among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. The WPS offers occupational protections to over 2 million agricultural workers (people involved in the production of agricultural plants) and pesticide handlers (people who mix, load, or apply crop pesticides) who work at over 600,000 agricultural establishments (farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses). 

On November 2, 2015, EPA revised the WPS to implement more protections for agricultural workers, handlers and their families. The WPS revisions are intended to decrease pesticide exposure incidents among farmworkers and their family members. Fewer incidents means a healthier workforce and avoiding lost wages, medical bills and absences from work and school.

Most of the revised WPS requirements became effective on January 2, 2017. Two requirements went into effect on January 2, 2018:

  • The requirement for an updated safety poster, and
  • The requirement for handlers to suspend an application if a person is within the application exclusion zone.

How to Comply with the 2015 Revised WPS For Agricultural Pesticides - What Owners and Employers Need To Know (.pdf)

Handbook For Agricultural Employers(.pdf)

Respiratory Protection Guide (.pdf)

Respirator Checklist (.doc)

WPS Training Videos 

Short Videos for Pesticide Safety Training (PERC)

WPS FLIPCHART - Pesticide Safety Training for Agricultural Workers (In English and Spanish)

More at EPA website.  

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