What are My Responsibilities as a Worker?
A worker has no responsibilities under WPS. Instead, the agricultural employer must provide protections to workers. However, there are things you can do to protect yourself, other workers, and your family.
Improve Your Routine
Learn all you can from the training materials and pesticide safety poster.
- Avoid getting pesticides on your skin or in your body.
- Protect your skin from pesticide residue by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks.
- Wash your hands with soap and water before you eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum. You should also wash your hands before you use your phone or go to the bathroom.
- Wash your body and hair with soap or shampoo right after work; then put on clean clothes.
- Wash you work clothes before wearing them again.
- Wash your work clothes separately from the family's laundry.
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Follow Directions
You must pay attention to posted warning signs and verbal warnings about where pesticides have been used recently. Your employer is required to inform you of the locations on the establishment with restricted entry. Even if the signs have been posted for a long time, they should be removed before you enter posted areas.
The establishment owner/operator must make sure that people stay away from pesticide application equipment while pesticides are being used. The distance is 100 feet for air-blast sprayers and aerial applications. The "Application Exclusion Zone" varies depending on the type of application.
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Know the Signs and Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning
You will learn about pesticide poisoning symptoms in your annual WPS training. If you suspect that someone on your crew is getting sick from pesticide exposure, tell your supervisor. Move the person to shade, where they can get some water and rest. Your employer is required to ensure transportation to a nearby medical facility when needed. They will also provide information to the medical team about the situation, the pesticide(s) and the safety data sheet(s). The location of a nearby medical facility will be listed on the safety information poster at the central location.
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FAQ
What are my employer's responsibilities under the WPS?
How and when will I be informed about the pesticides in my workplace?
Related Resources
Pesticides in Forestry, A Worker's Guide to Safe Practices
Regulatory Guidance
Browse brief guides about protections for workers and handlers, the AEZ, posting, PPE, exemptions, training, respirators, and more, in English and Spanish.