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Additional duties of worker employers
Agricultural employers must also provide some additional protections specifically for their workers.
Restrictions During Applications
An employer must keep all workers, other than trained and equipped handlers, out of areas being treated with pesticides. Under some application conditions, nursery and greenhouse workers must also be kept an additional distance from the treated area. Consult the Worker Protection Standard for special application restrictions for nurseries and greenhouses.
Restricted-Entry Intervals (REIs)
The restricted-entry interval is the time immediately after a pesticide application when entry into the treated area is limited. During an REI, do not allow workers to enter a treated area or contact anything treated with the pesticide to which the REI applies.
REIs are located on the Agricultural Use Requirements section of the pesticide label. When two (or more) pesticides are applied at the same time and have different REIs, you must follow the longer interval.
Notice About Applications
Employers must notify workers about pesticide applications on the establishment. In most cases, employers may choose between oral warnings or posted warning signs, but they must tell workers which warning method is in effect. For some pesticides, however, employers have to do both.
Warning signs must be posted 24 hours or less before application, during the REI, and removed before workers enter or within 3 days after the end of the REI. When standard-size signs of 14" x 16" are used, they should be posted so they can be seen at all normal entrances to treated areas, including entrances from labor camps. When smaller signs are used, specific lettering size and posting distances must be followed. Refer contact the Board of Pesticides Control for details about smaller signs.
Oral warnings must be delivered in a manner understood by workers, using an interpreter, if necessary. Oral warnings must contain the following information:
- location and description of treated area
- the REI
- specific directions not to enter during the REI
Handler employers are also required to provide the following protections to their employees (See Additional duties of handler employers).
What is WPS?| Duties of both worker and handler employers | Additional duties of worker employers | Additional duties of handler employers | The WPS inspection | WPS Links
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