The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection enforces the federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS) in Wisconsin. The WPS is a regulation issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intended to use information, training, and practices to reduce the risk of pesticide exposure for pesticide handlers and other workers producing crops:
- On farms
- In forests
- In nurseries
- In greenhouses
Workers and handlers include employees, self-employed contractors and, in some cases, owners.
Changes to WPS
EPA is proposing changes to the application exclusion zone
requirements with the Worker Protection Standard. EPA published the proposed
rule in the federal register on November 1, 2019. Comments are due
on or before January 30, 2020. Changes to the AEZ are the only proposed
changes that EPA is making to the worker protection standards at this time.
According to EPA, “EPA is
proposing to amend the AEZ requirements in the 2015 WPS rule to limit the AEZ
to the boundaries of the agricultural establishment. EPA is also proposing to
revise the provisions related to handlers suspending and resuming applications,
and the presence of persons on the agricultural establishment during
application who are not under the control of the owner or agricultural
employer. EPA is proposing to simplify the criteria for determining the AEZ
distances for outdoor applications based on application method. EPA is also
proposing to amend the AEZ requirements for owners of agricultural
establishments and their immediate family members by expanding the exemption at
40 CFR 170.601(a) to include the AEZ requirements at 40 CFR 170.405(a).”
In other words, the AEZ will be
limited to the boundaries of the farm, forest or nursery. And, immediate family
members will be exempt from following the AEZ among other changes.
Proposed
rule language https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-11-01/pdf/2019-23718.pdf
To
comment, see the federal register docket [https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/11/01/2019-23718/pesticides-agricultural-worker-protection-standard-revision-of-the-application-exclusion-zone]
Recent changes already in effect
Compare old/new provisions
Training
Programs to become a qualified trainer
Training materials and videos for workers, handlers and trainers
Training record form
Safety posters
Requirements for posting WPS information
Posters for downloading and printing on 11 x 17 paper, with Wisconsin contact information
Order larger or laminated posters (no Wisconsin contact information)
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