Worker protection standard

Overview

The Worker Protection Standard was written by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the risk of pesticide poisoning among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers.

Oregon OSHA enforces the Worker Protection Standard as it was adopted in 437-004-6000. The standard applies when a pesticide with the words “Agricultural Use Requirements” on the product label is used on plants grown or sold at outlets such as retail nurseries or greenhouses.

The standard covers agricultural workers (people involved in the production of agricultural plants) and pesticide handlers (people who mix, load, or apply crop pesticides) who work on farms and in forests, nurseries, and greenhouses.

All available content

Publications

Apps-mobile/online
- Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals - mobile version
  Helps workers understand how to reduce the dangers from pesticides.
  English 07/17/2015
- Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals - mobile version
  Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals: mobile version
  Ayuda a los trabajadores entender como reducir los peligros de los pesticidas.
  Spanish 07/17/2015
Brochures/Guides
- An overview of the Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) employer requirements
  Information employers need to provide to employees when enclosed structures are within the designated exclusion zone for an outdoor pesticide application.
  English Order printed copy 08/02/2023
- Application exclusion zone information sheet: steps to take for an AEZ
  Agricultural employer requirements for securing agricultural structures that fall within the Application Exclusion Zone for outdoor crop areas.
  English Order printed copy 11/29/2022
- Application exclusion zone: Oregon OSHA’s Worker Protection Standard
  Information to help employers navigate the Application Exclusion Zone with specific Oregon requirements under the Worker Protection Standard.
  English Order printed copy 02/12/2019
- Cultivate a safe agricultural workplace
  Offers general rule-related requirements and recommendations for agricultural employers to create a safer workplace.
  English 06/06/2012
- Hoja de información sobre la zona de exclusión de la aplicación de pesticidas: pasos a tomar para una AEZ
  Application exclusion zone information sheet
  Requisitos agrícolas para el empleador para asegurar estructuras o edificios agrícolas que están dentro de la zona de exclusión de la aplicación para áreas de cultivo al aire libre.
  Spanish Order printed copy 12/14/2018
- Personal protective equipment: Selecting the right PPE for pesticide use
  Helps employers and employees understand the requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) that are listed on pesticide product labels. Gives general advice about best practices for cleaning, maintaining, and storing PPE along with guidelines for choosing the most effective PPE from head to toe.
  English Order printed copy 04/30/2024
- Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals | Prácticas de seguridad cuando se trabaja con químicos agrícolas peligrosos
  Covers safe practices for employees who work around hazardous chemicals and pesticides. Ayuda a los trabajadores entender como reducir los peligros de los pesticidas.
  English / Spanish 04/13/2023
- Una descripción general de los requisitos del empleador de la Zona de exclusión de aplicaciones (AEZ)
  Application exclusion zone information sheet
  Información que los empleadores necesitan proporcionar a los empleados, cuando cualquier estructura o edificio agrícola que se puede cerrar cae dentro de la zona de exclusión de la aplicación de pesticidas al aire libre.
  Order printed copy 08/03/2023
- Worker Protection Standard reference guide
  Describes what employers must do to comply with the Worker Protection Standard and gives Oregon-specific requirements.
  English Order printed copy 07/24/2024
- Zona de exclusión de aplicación: Estándar para la Protección del Trabajador de Oregon OSHA
  Application Exclusion Zone: Oregon OSHA’s Worker Protection Standard
  Información para ayudar a los empleadores a navegar por la zona de exclusión de aplicación con los requisitos específicos de Oregon bajo la norma de protección para el trabajador.
  Spanish Order printed copy 03/14/2019
Fact sheets
- Safety orientation for seasonal workers in agriculture
  Explains the requirements of 437-004-0240, Safety Orientation for Seasonal Workers, which applies to agricultural employers who hire seasonal workers.
  English 02/23/2012
Forms
- Fumigation management plan for burrowing pests
  This plan is required by the fumigant label to be completed for every application of aluminum or magnesium phosphide products for burrowing rodents. Common names for these products include: Fumitoxin, Phostoxin, Gastoxin or Phosfume.
  English Word version 01/05/2012
- Worker Protection Standard required pesticide information
  Worker Protection Standard required pesticide information
  English Word version 10/31/2014
- WPS Handler Training Record
  Agriculture employers are required to document each pesticide handler’s training and maintain that documentation for two years from the date of the training.
  English Word version 03/25/2019
- WPS Worker Training Record
  Agriculture employers are required to document each worker’s training and maintain that documentation for two years from the date of the training.
  English Word version 03/25/2019
Posters
- Cartel de la silvicultura - Protéjase de los pesticidas
  Forestry poster - Protect yourself from pesticides
  Describes how forest activities workers can protect themselves from pesticides. Meets the posting requirements for the Worker Protection Standard. - | - Describe cómo los trabajadores de las actividades forestales puedan protegerse de los pesticidas. Cumple con los requisitos por El Estándar de La Protección al Trabajador.
  English / Spanish Order printed copy 09/08/2009
- Protejése de los pesticidas
  Protect yourself from pesticides poster
  This poster contains pesticide safety information that is required under the Worker Protection Standard.
  English / Spanish Order printed copy 07/25/2017
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019
Reports
- Assessment of the Worker Protection Standard Program in Oregon, FFY 2000
  Federal fiscal year 2000 assessment of the worker protection standard program in Oregon.
  English
- Pesticide Emphasis Program Annual Report, FFY 2016
  This report is the annual review of the pesticide emphasis program for federal fiscal year 2016 (FY2016). The data elements and analysis are presented, along with recommendations for program improvements for the coming year.
  English 01/27/2017
- Pesticide Emphasis Program Annual Report, FFY 2020
  Federal fiscal year 2020 Oregon OSHA pesticide emphasis program annual report.
  English 03/08/2021
- Pesticide Emphasis Program Annual Report, FFY 2021
  Oregon OSHA and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 10 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division in the Air & Toxics Enforcement Section, collaborate on pesticide safety issues. Oregon OSHA enforces the Worker Protection Standard, which is supplemented with a pesticide emphasis program. This report is the annual review of the pesticide emphasis program for federal fiscal year 2021 (FY2021). The data elements and analysis are presented, along with recommendations for program improvements for the coming year.
  English 02/18/2022
- Pesticide Emphasis Program Annual Report, FFY 2022
  Federal fiscal year 2022 Oregon OSHA pesticide emphasis program annual report.
  English 03/21/2023
- Pesticide Emphasis Program Annual Report, FFY 2023
  This report is the annual review of the pesticide emphasis program for federal fiscal year 2023 (FY2023). The data elements and analysis are presented, along with recommendations for program improvements for the coming year.
  English 08/14/2024

Education and training

Grant program
- Protéjase de los pesticidas
  Protect Yourself from Pesticides
  Esta guía es su herramienta para enseñarles a los trabajadores forestales y a sus familias sobre los peligros de trabajar con pesticidas. La información ha sido diseñada para los trabajadores en Oregon, pero es útil, en su mayoría, para todos los trabajadores forestales del país.
  Workbook Spanish 04/01/2019
- Protect Yourself from Pesticides
  Chemical Safety for Forest workers in Southern Oregon that address preventing exposure to pesticides and gasoline. Developed through a grant by Northwest Forest Workers Center.
  Workbook English 04/01/2019
Resources
- Public Education Workshop Schedule July-December
  Schedule for in-person and virtual workshop classes around the state during July through December. Attending an Oregon OSHA class helps you gain important knowledge and skills.
  English 02/13/2024
- Public Education Workshop Schedule January-June
  Schedule for our workshop classes from January through June. Attending an Oregon OSHA class helps you gain important knowledge and skills.
  English 02/05/2025
Workshop
- Worker Protection Standard
  Workbook English 11/12/2020
- Worker Protection Standard
  Instructor Guide English 11/12/2020
- Worker Protection Standard
  PowerPoint slides for the Worker Protection Standard education workshop.
  Overhead English 02/24/2020

Rules and rule-related

Advisory Committee

Agriculture Employer

Worker Protection Standard Fiscal Impact

Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision Z, 437-002-0170, Worker Protection Standard
  1-2017 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision I, Protective Equipment
  Administrative Order 2-2023 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision W, Worker Protection Standard
  2-2018 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision Z, Chemical/Toxins
  Administrative Order 4-2022 Word version
- Division 7, Subdivision A, General Requirements
  9-2009
Interpretations
- Division 4, agriculture clarifications
  08/21/2002
- Train workers in a manner they understand
  05/04/2010
Program Directives
- Local Emphasis Program (LEP): Field Sanitation
  Purpose: To establish and implement an LEP for field sanitation inspections and to provide guidelines for the inspection of agricultural establishments covered by the Field Sanitation Standard in Division 4, Agriculture.
  A-174 08/11/2011
- Local Emphasis Program (LEP): Pesticides
  Purpose: To establish methods the enforcement staff will use to provide effective, efficient and consistent enforcement inspections in the variety of occupational sites where pesticides are made, used and stored.
  A-235 02/28/2018
Summary of comments and decisions
- Explanation of Rulemaking for Pesticide Worker Protection Standard: Application Exclusion Zones
  2-2018
- Summary of comments and agency decisions regarding proposed changes to the Hazard Communication standard for agricultural employers, and twelve other rules in Division 4 Subdivisions B, H, L, N, and Z
  3-2014

Video Resources

Borrow from the Resource Center

Worker Protection Standard
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Borrow DVDs about Worker Protection Standard from the Resource Center

Watch Online

English
- Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Explained
  This video explains Oregon OSHA's application exclusion zone in the worker protection standard
  Language: English Length: 5 minutes
English Spanish
- Pesticide Safety for Agricultural Workers
  Available in both English and Spanish languages. EPA Approved training video for training agricultural workers about pesticides and the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). This video satisfies the pesticide safety training requirement for workers under the revised WPS effective January 1, 2016.
  Language: English Spanish Length: 18:28 minutes
Spanish
- Pesticides in Forestry, A Workers’ Guide to Safe Practices
  Available in English and Spanish languages. EPA Approved training video for training forestry workers about pesticides and the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). This video satisfies the pesticide safety training requirement for workers under the revised WPS effective January 1, 2016.
  Language: Spanish Length: 16:51 minutes
- Zona de Exclusión de aplicación (AEZ) Explicado
  Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Explained
  Este video explica la zona de exclusión de aplicación de Oregon OSHA en el estándar de protección del trabajador.
  Language: Spanish Length: 5 minutos

Additional Resources

Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative - PERC

Highlights

Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) FAQ

Overview of additional Oregon OSHA protective measures for AEZ