MSU Extension offers statewide worker protection standard training

Montana State University News Service

BOZEMAN — The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program and the Montana Department of Agriculture are coordinating three regional worker protection standard, or WPS, trainings next month in an effort to update the state’s agricultural community.

Training sessions will be offered in Glasgow May 1, Great Falls May 2 and Kalispell May 3.

The WPS is an Environmental Protection Agency regulation designed to protect agricultural workers who perform tasks related to growing and harvesting plants on an agricultural site and handlers who mix, load or apply agricultural pesticides; clean or repair pesticide application equipment; or assist with the application of pesticides. It contains requirements for protective equipment, restricted-entry intervals following pesticide applications, safety training and other elements to prevent injury from pesticides.

  The half-day programs are designed to deliver WPS guidance to owners of agricultural establishments while training agricultural workers and/or handlers. Private applicator credits will be offered.

  According to EPA regulations, individuals must follow WPS requirements if a pesticide application is for the purpose of managing an agricultural commodity on an agricultural site and the pesticide has an agricultural use requirements box.

The EPA released new WPS requirements in 2015, most of which became effective Jan. 2, 2017, said Cecil Tharp, MSU pesticide education specialist. He added that all applicators meeting the definition of WPS must meet some of the WPS requirements. If the owner has workers or handlers that are not family members, however, Tharp indicated that they must meet the expanded WPS requirements.

  Speakers at the training events will include Tharp; Amy Bowser, MSU pesticide education technician; Jolene Warnke-Roszel, commerical training coordinator; Theresa Schrum, MDA District 2 agent; and Kima Caddell, MDA District 7 agent.

  Hosts for each training session include MSU Pesticide Education Program, Valley County Extension, Cascade County Extension and Flathead County Extension and Pesticide Education Program.

  Registration for each of the events is $10, and pre-registration is required. To register online visit pesticides.montana.edu/event.html. For more information about registration, contact Bowser at 406-994-5178 or [email protected].

For information on each training, including a schedule of events and location information, visit pesticides.montana.edu/documents/pat/agendas/agenda-2018/WPSTour_Combined_Agenda.pdf.

For more information on the WPS visit EPA website or the MSU Pesticide Education Program website.

WPS manuals titled “How to Comply with the 2015 Revised Worker Protection Standard” are available for free by calling the Montana Department of Agriculture at 406-444-3732. All other WPS resources can be found on the Pesticide Educational Resources Collective website at pesticideresources.org/wps/cp.html.

For other pesticide education questions, contact Tharp at 406-994-5067 or [email protected].