Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 16, 2026

Worker Protection Standard

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) federal regulation, intended to protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses that are occupationally exposed to agricultural pesticides. Restricted use pesticides control is managed by the EPA under this regulation. It includes the following requirements:Pesticide Safety Training Notification of Pesticide Applications to Employees and between Employers Application, Safety & Hazard Communication to Employees & Contract Workers Recordkeeping Requirements Use of Personal Protective Equipment Restricted Entry Intervals (REI) following Pesticide Application Decontamination Supplies Emergency Medical Assistance Application Exclusion Zone

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Worker Protection Standard
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Citation40 CFR Part 170
Enacted byUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
Enacted1992
Administered byUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
Related legislation
issued under the authority of FIFRA

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) federal regulation (40 CFR Part 170), intended to protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses that are occupationally exposed to agricultural pesticides.1 Restricted use pesticides control is managed by the EPA under this regulation. It includes the following requirements:2

  • Pesticide Safety Training
  • Notification of Pesticide Applications to Employees and between Employers
  • Application, Safety & Hazard Communication to Employees & Contract Workers
  • Recordkeeping Requirements
  • Use of Personal Protective Equipment
  • Restricted Entry Intervals (REI) following Pesticide Application
  • Decontamination Supplies
  • Emergency Medical Assistance
  • Application Exclusion Zone (enforcement starts January 1, 2018)

Other organizations and programs related in one way or the other to the administering of and reporting about WPS-based pesticide control include:

  • AAPCO—Assoc. of American Pesticide Control Officials3
  • AAPSE—American Assoc. of Pesticide Safety Educators4
  • CTAG—Certification and Training Assessment Group5
  • CPARD—Certification Plan & Reporting Database6
  • POINTS—Pesticide of Interest Reporting Database7
  • NASDA Pesticide Safety Programs8
  • Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine; Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry9
  • National Toxicology Program
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Worker Protection Standard". United States Environmental Protection Agency.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. "TITLE 40--Protection of Environment; CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; SUBCHAPTER E--PESTICIDE PROGRAMS; PART 170--WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD". United States Government Printing Office.
  3. "AAPCO—Assoc. of American Pesticide Control Officials". AAPCO—Assoc. of American Pesticide Control Officials.
  4. "AAPSE—American Assoc. of Pesticide Safety Educators". AAPSE—American Assoc. of Pesticide Safety Educators.
  5. "CTAG—Certification and Training Assessment Group". CTAG—Certification and Training Assessment Group.
  6. "CPARD—Certification Plan & Reporting Database". CPARD—Certification Plan & Reporting Database. Archived from the original on 2017-01-20. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  7. "POINTS—Pesticide of Interest Reporting Database". POINTS—Pesticide of Interest Reporting Database.
  8. "NASDA Pesticide Safety Programs". NASDA Pesticide Safety Programs. Archived from the original on 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  9. "Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine; Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry". United States Centers for Disease Control. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012.