5-1 CHAPTER 5. INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES FROM ORGANIZATIONS OTHER
THAN THE FAA
5.1 Purpose. This chapter provides informational resources applicable to agricultural aircraft operations and operators/applicants. The FAA does not regulate the information in this chapter.
5.2 EPA Worker Protection Standard.
1. Agricultural Worker Protection Standard, Parts 156 and 170. Interpretive Policy. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/safety/workers/wpsinterpolicy.htm.
2. How to Comply With the Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides: What Employers Need To Know.
http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/htc.html.
3. Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisoning.
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/safety/healthcare/handbook/handbook.pdf.
4. Pesticides: Health and Safety. Human health issues.
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/human.htm.
5. Toxicity Categories and Pesticide Label Statements. The EPA uses the criteria in Table 5-1, Toxicity Categories and Pesticide Label Statements, to determine the toxicity category of pesticides. These criteria are based on the results of animal tests done in support of registration of the pesticide.
Table 5-1. Toxicity Categories and Pesticide Label Statements
I II III IV Oral LD 50 (Lethal Dose) Up to and including 50 mg/kg From 50 thru 500 mg/kg From 500 thru 5,000 mg/kg Greater than 5,000 mg/kg Inhalation LC 50 (Lethal Concentration) Up to and including
0.2 mg/liter From 0.2 thru 2 mg/liter From 2.0 thru 20 mg/liter Greater than 20 mg/liter Dermal LD 50 Up to and including 200 mg/kg.
From 200 thru 2,000 mg/kg From 2,000 thru 20,000 mg/kg Greater than 20,000 mg/kg Eye effects Corrosive; corneal opacity not reversible within 7 days Corneal opacity reversible within 7 days; irritation persisting for 7 days.
No corneal opacity; irritation reversible within 7 days No irritation Skin effects Corrosive Severe irritation at 72 hours Moderate irritation at 72 hours Mild or slight irritation at 72 hours.
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6. Human Hazard Signal Word.
• Toxicity Category I. All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category I must bear on the front panel the signal word “Danger.” If the product was assigned to Toxicity Category I on the basis of its oral, inhalation, or skin toxicity (as distinct from skin and eye local effects) the word “Poison” must appear in red on a background of distinctly contrasting color, and the skull and crossbones must appear in immediate proximity to the word “Poison.”
• Toxicity Category II. All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category II must bear on the front panel the signal word “Warning.”
• Toxicity Category III. All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category III must bear on the front panel the signal word “Caution.”
• Toxicity Category IV. All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category IV must bear on the front panel the signal word “Caution.”
5.3 Personal Protection Information.
5.3.1 New Worker Protection Standard Glove Requirements for Workers, Handlers, and Pilots.
5.3.1.1 On November 2, 2015, the EPA revised the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural workers, handlers, and their families. Personal protective equipment (PPE) exception is allowed for aerial applications (Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR) part 170, § 170.607(e) and (f)). Wearing chemical-resistant gloves when entering or leaving an aircraft used to apply pesticides is optional, unless such gloves are required on the pesticide product labeling. If gloves are brought into the cockpit of an aircraft that has been used to apply pesticides, the gloves must be kept in an enclosed container to prevent contamination of the inside of the cockpit.
5.3.1.2 Handlers applying pesticides from an open cockpit aircraft must use the PPE specified in the pesticide product labeling for use during an application, except that chemical-resistant footwear need not be worn. A helmet may be substituted for chemical-resistant headgear. A helmet with a face shield lowered to cover the face may be substituted for protective eyewear.
5.3.1.3 Persons occupying an enclosed cockpit may substitute a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, and socks for labeling-specified PPE.
5.3.1.4 Information can be found in the WPS “How to Comply” manual:
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/pesticide-worker-protectionstandard-how-comply-manual.
5.3.2 U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The OSHA website has information about on-the-job safety and laws relating to that topic: http://www.osha.gov/.
5.3.3 Interpreting PPE Statements on Pesticide Labels. See Figure 5-1, PPE Statements and Pesticide Labels.
5-3 Figure 5-1. PPE Statements and Pesticide Labels Label Statement Acceptable PPE Long-sleeved shirt and long pants Long-sleeved shirt and long pants, or woven or nonwoven coverall plastic, or other barrier-coated coverall, or rubber or plastic suit Coverall worn over short-sleeved shirt and short pants Coverall worn over short-sleeved shirt and short pants, or coverall worn over long-sleeved shirt and long pants, or coverall worn over another coverall, or plastic or other barrier-coated coverall, or rubber or plastic suit Coverall worn over long-sleeved shirt and long pants Coverall worn over long-sleeved shirt and long pants, or coverall worn over another coverall, or plastic or other barrier-coated coverall, or rubber or plastic suit Chemical-resistant apron worn over coverall or over long-sleeved shirt and long pants No substitute Waterproof suit or liquid-proof suit No substitute Waterproof gloves Any rubber or plastic gloves sturdy enough to remain intact throughout the task being preformed Chemical-resistant gloves Barrier-laminate gloves, or other gloves that glove selection charts or guidance indicate are chemical-resistant to the pesticide for the period of time required to perform the task Chemical-resistant gloves such as butyl or nitrile Butyl gloves, or nitrile gloves, or other gloves that glove selection charts or guidance indicate are chemical-resistant to the pesticide for the period of time required to perform the task Shoes Leather, canvas, or fabric shoes chemical-resistant shoes, or chemical-resistant boots, or chemical-resistant shoe coverings (booties) Chemical-resistant footwear Chemical-resistant shoes, or chemical-resistant boots, or chemical-resistant shoe coverings (booties) Chemical-resistant boots Chemical-resistant boots Chemical-resistant hood or wide-brimmed hat Rubber-, or plastic-coated, safari-style hat or fire-fighter hat, or plastic or other barrier-coated hood, or rubber or plastic hood, full hood or helmet that is part of some respirators
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5.3.4 Human Exposure. Use the following if someone has swallowed, inhaled, or gotten a pesticide in the eye or on the skin:
1. Call 911 if the person is unconscious, has trouble breathing, or is having convulsions.
2. Check the label for directions on how to give first aid.
3. Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 for help with first aid information.
4. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) (1-800-858-7378) also can provide information about pesticide products and their toxicity.
Note: See Figure 5-2, Government Agency Resources, for government agency resources.
Figure 5-2. Government Agency Resources Agency Contact Information Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
More than 100 million workers and 6.5 million employers are covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which covers workers in pesticide manufacturing. OSHA and its state partners have approximately 2,100 inspectors, plus investigators, standards writers, educators, physicians, and other staff in over 200 offices across the country. OSHA sets protective workplace standards, enforces the standards, and offers employers and employees technical assistance and consultation programs. Note that some states have their own OSHA.
OSHA/U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Ave, NW Washington, DC 20210 Tel: 1-800-321-6742 www.osha.gov United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Extension Service. USDA’s Extension Service works with its university partners, the state land-grant system, to provide farmers and ranchers information to reduce and prevent agricultural-related work incidents. The Pesticide Applicator Training program trains applicators in the safe use of pesticides and coordinates pesticide-related safety training programs.
USDA 1400 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20250 Tel: 202-720-2791 www.usda.gov
5-5 Figure 5-2. Government Agency Resources (Continued) Agency Contact Information National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NCEH provides environmental pesticide case surveillance and disease outbreak investigations.
NCEH, CDC 4770 Buford Highway NE Atlanta, GA 30341-3717 Tel: 1-800-232-4636 www.cdc.gov/nceh/ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research on occupational disease and injury.
NIOSH may investigate potentially hazardous working conditions upon request, makes recommendations on preventing workplace disease and injury, and provides training to occupational safety and health professionals.
NIOSH, CDC 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 Hotline: 1-800-323-4636 www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
5.4 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Health and Safety Centers. NIOSH has funded eight agricultural health and safety centers throughout the country that employ clinicians and other health specialists in the area of pesticide-related illness and injury. A list of NIOSH-supported centers can be found in Figure 5-3, NIOSH-Supported Centers.
Figure 5-3. NIOSH-Supported Centers University of California Center for Health and the Environment University of California Old Davis Road Davis, CA 95616 Tel: 530-752-1340 High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 Tel: 970-491-6152 Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 Tel: 319-335-4405
5-6 Figure 5-3. NIOSH-Supported Centers (Continued) Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention University of Kentucky Department of Preventive Medicine Lexington, KY 40536 Tel: 859-257-5678 Northeast Center for Agricultural and Occupational Health One Atwell Road Cooperstown, NY 13326 Tel: 1-800-343-7527 Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury and Education University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler 11937 U.S. Highway 271 Tyler, TX 75708-3154 Tel: 903-877-5896 Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center University of Washington Department of Environmental Health Seattle, WA 98195 Tel: 1-800-330-0827 Midwest Center for Agricultural Research, Education and Disease and Injury Prevention National Farm Medicine Center Marshfield, WI 54449-5790 Tel: 1-800-662-6900
5.5 Non-Governmental Organizations.
5.5.1 NPIC. NPIC is based out of Oregon State University and is cooperatively sponsored by the university and the EPA.
5.5.1.1 NPIC serves as a source of objective, science-based pesticide information on a wide range of pesticide-related topics, such as recognition and management of pesticide poisonings, safety information, health and environmental effects, referrals for investigation of pesticide incidents, emergency treatment for humans and animals, and cleanup and disposal procedures.
5.5.1.2 A toll-free hotline service provides pesticide information to callers in the continental United States (CONUS), Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The NPIC hotline number is 1-800-858-7378. Pesticide questions and comments can be sent to npic@ace.orst.edu.
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5.5.1.3 The website has links to other sites and databases for further information. For a list of state and regional poison control centers, or the nearest location, visit http://npic.orst.edu/.
5.5.2 American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE). The AAPSE maintains a list of Web resources by state, with links to program information, newsletters, journals, and other resources for pesticide educators. It includes guidebooks for evaluating pesticide applicator training programs and guides to EPA regulations. For more information, visit http://www.aapse.ext.vt.edu.
5.6 Pesticide Databases.
5.6.1 Extension Toxicology Network. The Extension Service’s Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET) provides science-based information about pesticides to healthcare providers treating pesticide-related health concerns. Pesticide toxicological information is developed cooperatively by the University of California, Davis; Oregon State University;
Michigan State University; Cornell University; and the University of Idaho. For more information, visit http://extoxnet.orst.edu/.
5.6.2 The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). IRIS is an electronic database on human health effects that may have been caused by exposure to various chemicals in the environment. IRIS is intended for those without extensive training in toxicology, but with some knowledge of health sciences. It provides hazard identification and dose–response assessment information. Combined with specific exposure information, the data in IRIS can be used in risk management to characterize the health risks of a chemical to protect public health. Extensive supporting documentation is available at http://www.epa.gov/iris/.
5.6.3 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). This organization (part of the HHS) publishes fact sheets and other information on pesticides and other toxic substances. For more information, visit http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/.
5.6.4 California Department of Pesticide Regulation. This website includes pesticidal chemical ingredients queries, links to EPA/Office of Pesticide Program’s chemical dictionary, Product/Label Database Queries (updated nightly), a current listing of California’s Section 18 Emergency Exemptions, and more: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprdatabase.htm.
5.6.5 Federal Pesticide Recordkeeping Program. This website details USDA requirements for recordkeeping for restricted-use pesticides: http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/sdpr.htm.
5.6.6 Restricted Use Product Report (EPA). This is a list of restricted-use pesticides from the U.S. EPA: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/restricted-use-products-rupreport.
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5.7 Industry Resources.
5.7.1 NAAA. This organization represents more than 1,300 members in 46 states. Its member operator/pilots are licensed as commercial applicator–operators that use aircraft to enhance food and fiber production, protect forestry, and control health-threatening pests.
Through its affiliation with the NAAREF, the NAAA contributes to research and educational programs focused on enhancing the efficacy and safety of aerial application.
For more information, visit http://www.agaviation.org/.
5.7.2 AgAir Update Online. AgAir Update is a monthly publication that delivers up-to-date news about new products and modifications for the agricultural aircraft to the agricultural aviation industry and its affiliates worldwide. The publication is filled with human interest stories about the people who fly agricultural aircraft, and how they run their individual flying operations. For more information, visit http://www.agairupdate.com/.
5.7.3 Agricultural Chemical Use Database. This website provides interactive access to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) as part of a cooperative effort among USDA, the USDA Regional Pest Management Centers and the National Science Foundation Center for Integrated Pest Management. All data available have been previously published by NASS and have been consolidated at the state level. Commodity acreages and active ingredient agricultural chemical use data are available. All data can be searched by commodity, year, state, and active ingredient. Search results can be obtained in Web format and as downloadable Excel files. Dynamic U.S. maps of each use statistic can be generated for each individual active ingredient, commodity, year and statistic. Agricultural chemical usage statistic data can also be seen in a graphical format.
For more details on methodology, please see the NASS website:
http://www.pestmanagement.info/nass/.
5.7.4 Agricultural Health Study. More than 89,000 individuals are participating in the Agricultural Health Study. This includes private and commercial pesticide applicators and their spouses. The study is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (specifically, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)) and the EPA and is being administered through the efforts of collaborators at the University of Iowa and Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation. The goal is to investigate the effects of environmental, occupational, dietary, and genetic factors on the health of the agricultural population.
This study will provide information that agricultural workers can use in making decisions about their health and that of their families. For more information, visit http://www.aghealth.org.
5.7.5 National Pesticide Stewardship Alliance. The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA), founded in 2000, is an organization of Federal, state, and local governmental agencies;
educational and research institutions; public organizations; private corporations; and individuals that are involved in different aspects of pesticide stewardship. Stewardship in this context includes any activity that has a positive impact on the safety and efficacy of pesticides from manufacture, marketing and commerce, through storage and use, and ultimately disposal of unwanted or unusable products and the management of emptied
5-9 containers. TPSA will serve as a forum to facilitate cooperation among all interested individuals, organizations, agencies, and companies. The goal of TPSA is to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and longevity of various pesticide stewardship efforts. TPSA will use education, training, outreach, and other activities to accomplish its stewardship objectives and will be involved in the local, national, and international arenas. For more information, visit http://www.tpsalliance.org/.
5.8 State and Local Licensing Requirements.
5.8.1 Rules and Regulations. Most state and local governments have rules and regulations pertaining to agricultural aircraft operations (including UAS operations). The scope of these rules and regulations vary. Operators should become familiar with the rules and regulations set forth in their respective state and local governments.
5.8.2 Subjects. Operators can expect to address the following subjects for local and state licensing requirements:
• Initial licensing requirements.
• Financial responsibility.
• Proof of residency.
• Licensing of nonresident applicators.
• Inspection of agricultural aircraft operation.
• Additional aircraft and pilots, deletions, and transfers.
• Records.
• License and pesticide violations.
5.9 Spray Application Information Resources. Spray drift is a significant issue aerial applicators face. The following website contains a list of studies and presentations that are dedicated to mitigating drift by using varied equipment and application techniques:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=30-91-05-15.
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