Apr 21, 2017

Minimize pesticide exposure with safe handling procedures

{Sponsored} Working with pesticides and herbicides is common in the horticulture industry. As you use these products to protect your plants, remind employees the importance of following safe handling procedures to reduce potential risk. Hortica® has gathered safety recommendations to minimize potential employee exposure to chemicals.

Protective clothing — Proper clothing will reduce the amount of exposed skin and help minimize exposure to chemicals. Always wear the proper personal protective equipment that is required for the chemical being used. You never know when the wind may change direction and blow chemicals back toward you.

Clean-up — Wash hands, face and any other exposed skin before smoking, eating or drinking. Use plenty of soap and water to wash away any pesticide residue. Wash work clothing and footwear separately to avoid spreading pesticides and herbicides to other clothing. Personal protective equipment should also be washed separately and thoroughly.

Treating exposure — First, note the location of wash stations and first aid kits prior to handling chemicals. If contact occurs, wash the exposed skin immediately and thoroughly. If contact occurs in your eyes, rinse with water and seek medical assistance.

These recommendations are further detailed in the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) established by the Environmental Protection Agency. Some of the revisions made to the WPS in 2015 are now in effect, with the remaining revisions going into effect in 2018.

The WPS was revised to better protect workers from exposure to pesticides and reduce the number of potentially preventable pesticide incidents, according to the EPA. The agency reports these changes will provide further protection for more than two million workers and handlers.

New WPS requirements that went into effect in January include:

• Annual mandatory training for workers and handlers.
• Records of handler and worker training must be kept for two years.
• Minimum age for handlers and early-entry workers set at 18 years of age.
• Display pesticide safety information at a central location and at sites where decontamination supplies are located.
• Employer must provide respirator and fit testing, training and medical evaluation. Records must be kept of this information.
• A set quantity of water must be available at each job site for routine washing and emergency eye flushing.
• Definition of “immediate family” expanded to also include all in-laws, grandparents and other extended relatives.

Pesticides may always be part of your production process. Make sure to review all WPS changes now in effect to keep employees safe and ensure compliance. For a complete list of changes to the Worker Protection Standard visit www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety.

Work with a Hortica® agent to take a look at your insurance coverage and create a custom safety program that is right for your business.

Hortica® property and casualty coverages are underwritten, and loss control services are provided, by Florists’ Mutual Insurance Company and Florists’ Insurance Company, members of the Sentry Insurance Group. For more information, visit hortica.com. Policies, coverages, benefits and discounts are not available in all states. See policy for complete coverage details.

This document is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. No one should act on the information contained in this document without advice from a local professional with relevant expertise.