Worker Protection Standard (WPS)
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a federal regulation designed to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. This section covers employer responsibilities, worker training requirements, posting of application information, Restricted Entry Intervals, decontamination supplies, emergency medical information, and the specific protections for early-entry workers.
Study Guide: Worker Protection Standard (WPS)
Review these sample questions before starting the practice test.
Q1: What is the Worker Protection Standard (WPS)?
- A. It regulates pesticide manufacturing
- B. OSHA workplace standards only
- C. State-only regulations
- D. EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 170) that protect agricultural workers and handlers from pesticide exposure â
The WPS is a set of federal EPA regulations under 40 CFR Part 170 designed to reduce the risk of pesticide poisoning among agricultural workers and handlers on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses.
Q2: Who qualifies as a "worker" under WPS?
- A. Any person performing tasks related to cultivating, harvesting, or other agricultural activities in treated areas â
- B. Only licensed applicators
- C. Only farm owners
- D. Only seasonal laborers
Under WPS, workers are people who perform hand-labor tasks (planting, weeding, harvesting, pruning) in areas where pesticides have been applied, or REIs are in effect.
Q3: Who qualifies as a "handler" under WPS?
- A. Any farm employee
- B. Only certified applicators
- C. Only commercial applicators
- D. A person who mixes, loads, applies, or performs other tasks involving direct contact with pesticides â
Handlers include anyone who mixes, loads, transfers, applies pesticides, cleans/repairs contaminated equipment, assists with application, or enters treated areas during application.
Q4: What establishments are covered by WPS?
- A. All businesses
- B. Only large commercial farms
- C. Farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses where agricultural pesticides are used â
- D. Only organic farms
WPS covers agricultural establishments: farms (including ranches, orchards, vineyards), forests, nurseries, and greenhouses. It does not cover golf courses, pest control companies, or residential applications.
Q5: What is the minimum REI for all WPS-covered pesticide applications?
- A. No minimum exists
- B. 24 hours
- C. 1 hour
- D. 4 hours, unless the product label specifies a longer period â
The WPS establishes a 4-hour minimum REI for all agricultural pesticide applications. Many products have longer REIs (12, 24, 48, or 72 hours) specified on their labels, which must be followed.
Q6: When must workers receive WPS safety training?
- A. Within 5 days of starting work in treated areas or handling pesticides, and annually thereafter â
- B. Only at hiring
- C. Every 5 years
- D. Only when they request it
Workers and handlers must be trained before they work in areas where pesticides have been applied within the last 30 days, and this training must be repeated every 12 months.
Q7: What must be displayed at a central location under WPS?
- A. The EPA WPS safety poster, application information for recent treatments, and emergency medical facility information â
- B. Only emergency numbers
- C. The company logo
- D. A list of all employees
WPS requires displaying: (1) the EPA safety poster, (2) information about recent pesticide applications (product, active ingredient, REI, treated area), and (3) emergency medical facility location.
Q8: What are the decontamination requirements under WPS for workers?
- A. No requirements
- B. Only a hose
- C. Water, soap, and single-use towels within 1/4 mile of work area, plus emergency eye flush if REI product used â
- D. Shower facilities only
WPS requires: at least 1 gallon of water per worker for routine washing, soap, single-use towels, and eye flush capability if working in areas treated with products requiring eye protection.
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