Pesticide Use and Safety

Scope

This section applies to handlers and applicators of pesticides and those who maintain pesticide equipment, work in pesticide treated areas or at a facility that uses pesticides. It addresses the handling, application, shipping and receiving, transporting and disposal of pesticide materials.

Purpose

The purpose of pesticide safety is to protect users and workers from undesirable exposures to pesticides, and to protect the environment from unwanted releases due to improper storage, spills, transportation accidents, misuse and improper disposal of pesticides.

Supervisor's Responsibilities

Supervisors must inform employees of the hazards associated with pesticides and their use and post the required safety and emergency information for employees. They must provide the required personal protective equipment (see the Personal Protective Equipment section of this manual) to protect from these hazards and train the employee on its proper use to include measures to prevent heat related illnesses (see the "Heat/Cold Stress" section in this manual). The supervisor must also provide the required decontamination equipment and supplies such as handwashing facilities, emergency eyewash and showers and personal emergency eyewashes. In the event of a pesticide exposure, the supervisor must immediately notify WSU Environmental Health and Safety (see the Emergency Contacts section in this manual).

The supervisor is to insure proper handling and application according to requirements of the pesticide label. This includes proper posting and recordkeeping of the application; enforcement of the restricted entry interval; application by an appropriately licensed applicator; training of employees; proper storage of pesticides with an accurate inventory and maintenance of Material Safety Data Sheets; proper disposal and safe transportation of pesticides.

Training Requirements

Applicators of restricted-use pesticides must be certified or have a licensed applicator within sight and hearing distance directly supervising the application. Certification is done every five years through testing or attending re-certification courses annually. Where pesticides are used in agricultural operations, employees must have Worker Protection Standard training prior to handling pesticides or working in treated areas. The training must be refreshed every five years. All employees working where pesticides are used are to be trained in Hazard Communications. Those shipping, receiving, or transporting pesticides must be trained in the pesticide hazards, emergency procedures, labeling, shipping papers, and safe transportation procedures. Those employees requiring the use of respiratory protection through label requirements must be trained and fit-tested (see the Personal Protective Equipment section in this manual).

Recordkeeping

• Inventory of stored pesticides at least once each year with purchase records kept for the inventory period
• Pesticide application records kept until 7 years after application
• Training received
• Experimental-use permit research: summary of results and effects on the environment kept for three years
• Annual respirator fit test results
• Waste disposal manifest, waste test results and annual reports for five years

Resources

• Pesticide label - specific to product
• Private Applicator Pesticide Education Manual, A Guide to Safe Use and Handling, MISC0126, Ed. Ramsay and Thomasson, WSU Cooperative Extension 800-723-1763 or http://caheinfo.wsu.edu
• See the EH&S Homepage at http://www.ehs.wsu.edu for fact sheets and videos
• EH&S at 335-3041

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