EPA Implements Rules for Farm Worker Pesticide Exposure

Following what it said was a decade of stakeholder input across the agricultural community, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced proposed revisions to the Worker Protection Standard aimed at protecting the country's two million farm workers and their families from pesticide exposure.

EPA said it's proposing significant improvements to worker training regarding the safe usage of pesticides, including how to prevent and effectively treat pesticide exposure. Increased training and signage will inform farm workers about the protections they are afforded under the law and will help them protect themselves and their families from pesticide exposure through overspray and fumes the agency added.

In addition, EPA has proposed that children under 16 be legally barred from handling all pesticides, but granted an exemption for family farms.

EPA's revised Worker Protection Standard will afford farm workers similar health protections to those already enjoyed by workers in other jobs, said administrator Gina McCarthy" Protecting our nation's farm workers from pesticide exposure is at the core of EPA's work to ensure environmental justice."