Central Posting Location is Key for the Worker Protection Standard

The central posting location must be in a place accessible to your employees during work hours. It must include the following three items: pesticide application records, pesticide safety information (also known as a WPS poster), and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

Pesticide application records for all pesticides (e.g., herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, miticides, etc.) applied to crops or crop areas on your establishment must be posted at the central posting location within 24 hours after the application has been made and remain there for 30 days after the expiration of the restricted entry interval (REI). This includes the application of general-use and restricted-use products under the WPS.

There is no official pesticide safety information poster; however, there are specific requirements for pesticide safety information. Penn State developed a poster that meets all the requirements, which the EPA has approved. These posters are available free of charge to all Pennsylvania growers and are offered in either English-only or English/Spanish versions. In Pennsylvania, the poster must display the name, address, and phone number of the regional office of the Department of Agriculture, where your farm is located, and the name and phone number of the closest medical facility. Hanging the poster up without filling in the other required information does not comply with the law.

Safety data sheets provide detailed information about all chemicals and pesticides, including their chemical properties, various hazards (e.g., physical, health, and environmental), protective measures, and safety precautions (e.g., handling, storage, and transportation). A convenient way to provide this information is in a 3-ring binder, with the SDS organized alphabetically. You can request the Safety Data Sheets from your pesticide dealer or download them online. If you download them from the Internet, be sure that you are getting the safety data sheets (SDS) and not the old material safety data sheets (MSDS). Review your records annually to ensure you have SDS for the pesticides you use on your farm. Retain SDS in your records for two years after you discontinue use of a pesticide on your establishment. Regarding the Worker Protection Standard (WOS), growers who employ one or more non-family members are required to have SDS for all pesticides used in their operation. However, any operation with employees, even family members, must have SDS for all chemicals used in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It is also a safety and health best management practice to have SDS for all chemicals and pesticides used in a grower's operation. Examples of other chemicals beyond pesticides that require SDS include fuels, lubricants, paints, sanitizers, and disinfectants.

For more information about complying with the Worker Protection Standard or to schedule a visit, contact Joni Davis, the Worker Protection Standard Specialist at Penn State, via email WPSprogram@psu.edu or telephone (814-863-8656).