f. Human Hazard Signal Word.
(1) 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.”
(2) Toxicity Category II. All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category II must bear on the front panel the signal word “Warning.”
(3) Toxicity Category III. All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category III must bear on the front panel the signal word “Caution.”
(4) Toxicity Category IV. All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category IV must bear on the front panel the signal word “Caution.”
4-3. PERSONAL PROTECTION INFORMATION.
a. New Worker Protection Standard Glove Requirements for Workers, Handlers, and Pilots.
(1) On September 1, 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the final rule amending the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for glove requirements. The final rule amended the WPS for agricultural pesticides in the following two ways:
(a) All agricultural pesticide handlers and early-entry workers covered by the WPS are now permitted to wear separate glove liners beneath chemical-resistant gloves.
(b) Agricultural pilots do not have to wear chemical-resistant gloves when entering or exiting aircraft.
(2) Handlers and early-entry workers may choose whether to wear the liners. The liners may not be longer than the chemical-resistant glove, and they may not extend outside the glove. The liners must be discarded after 10 hours of use, or whenever the liners become contaminated. Lined or flocked gloves, where the lining is attached to the inside of the chemical-resistant outer glove, remain unacceptable. Regulatory action was taken to reduce the discomfort of unlined, chemical-resistant gloves, especially during hot or cold periods.
Chemical-resistant gloves do not add any appreciable protection against minimal pesticide residues found around the cockpit of an aircraft. Click the following hyperlink for more information. http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/twor.html#glove
b. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site has information about on-the-job safety and laws relating to that topic. http://www.osha.gov/
c. Interpreting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Statements on Pesticide Labels. Refer to the following figure.
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FIGURE 4-1. 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-resistance 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 chemicalresistant 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 firefighter hat, or plastic or other barrier-coated hood, or rubber or plastic hood, full hood or helmet that is part of some respirators Par 3 Page 3
d. 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. See below for government agency resources.
FIGURE 4-2. 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 2100 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/US Department of Labor Room N3647 200 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20210 Tel: 202-219-8021 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 Page 4 Par 3
FIGURE 4-2. GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESOURCES (CONTINUED) Agency Contact Information National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control (NCEH). NCEH provides environmental pesticide case surveillance and disease outbreak investigations.
NCEH, CDC Mailstop F29 4770 Buford Highway NE Atlanta, GA 30341-3724 Tel: 770-488-7030 http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control (NIOSH). 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 Humphrey Building, Room 715H 200 Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20201 Hotline: 1-800-356-4674 www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
4-4. NIOSH AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CENTERS. NIOSH has funded eight agricultural health and safety centers throughout the country that employs clinicians and other health specialists in the area of pesticide-related illness and injury. Figure 4-4 is a list of NIOSH-supported centers.
FIGURE 4-3. NIOSH-SUPPORTED CENTERS University of California Agricultural Health and Safety Center University of California Old Davis Road Davis, CA 95616 Tel: 916-752-4050 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, Iowa 52242 Tel: 319-335-4415 Par 3 Page 5
FIGURE 4-3. NIOSH-SUPPORTED CENTERS (CONTINUED) Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention University of Kentucky Department of Preventive Medicine Lexington, Kentucky 40536 Tel: 606-323-6836 Northeast Center for Agricultural and Occupational Health One Atwell Road Cooperstown, NY 13326 Tel: 607-547-6023 Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury and Education University of Texas Health Center at Tyler PO Box 2003 Tyler, TX 75710 Tel: 903-877-5896 Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center University of Washington Department of Environmental Health Seattle, WA 98195 Tel: 206-543-0916 Midwest Center for Agricultural Research, Education and Disease and Injury Prevention National Farm Medicine Center Marshfield, WI 54449-5790
4-5. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
a. National Pesticide Information Center. NPIC is based out of Oregon State University and is cooperatively sponsored by the university and EPA.
(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.
(2) A toll-free telephone service provides pesticide information to callers in the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The NPIC hotline number is 1-800-858-7378. Pesticide questions and comments can be sent to an e-mail address.
(3) The Web site 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/.
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b. American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators. The American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators 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.org/.
4-6. PESTICIDE DATABASES.
a. 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. http://extoxnet.orst.edu/
b. The Integrated Risk Information System. The Integrated Risk Information System (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 online. http://www.epa.gov/iris/
c. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. This organization (part of the Department of Health and Human Services) publishes fact sheets and other information on pesticides and other toxic substances. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
d. California Department of Pesticide Regulation. This site 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
e. Federal Pesticide Recordkeeping Program. This page details United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements for recordkeeping for restricted-use pesticides.
http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/sdpr.htm
f. Restricted Use Product Report (EPA). This is a list of restricted-use pesticides from the U.S. EPA. http://www.epa.gov/opprd001/rup/
4-7. INDUSTRY RESOURCES.
a. The National Agricultural Aviation Association. 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 National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation, the NAAA contributes to research and educational programs focused on enhancing the efficacy and safety of aerial application. http://www.agaviation.org/ Par 5 Page 7
b. 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. http://www.agairupdate.com/
c. Agricultural Chemical Use Database. This site 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. For more details on methodology, please see the NASS Web site. 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.
http://www.pestmanagement.info/nass/
d. 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 (specifically the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) 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. http://www.aghealth.org
e. 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 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. http://www.tpsalliance.org/
4-8. STATE AND LOCAL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
a. Most state and local governments have rules and regulations pertaining to agricultural aircraft operations. The scope of these rules and regulations vary. You should become familiar with the rules and regulations set forth in your respective state and local governments.
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b. You can expect to address the following subjects for local and state licensing requirements:
• Initial licensing requirements
• Financial responsibility
• Proof of residency
• Licensing of non-resident applicators
• Inspection of agricultural aircraft operation
• Additional aircraft and pilots, deletions, and transfers
• Records
• License and pesticide violations
4-9. SPRAY APPLICATION INFORMATION RESOURCES. Spray drift is a significant issue aerial applicators face. The following Web page contains a list of studies and presentations that are dedicated to mitigating drift by using varied equipment and application techniques.
http://apmru.usda.gov/downloads/downloads.htm Par 8 Page 9