New Worker Protection Standards resources for trainers, workers and handlers

Heidi Lindberg<wollaege@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

There are new Worker Protection Standards employer handbooks, training videos, online courses and Spanish resources on the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative website.

Worker in a greenhouse
Photo by W. Garrett Owen, MSU Extension

In early 2018, Michigan State University Extension published numerous articles on the updated Worker Protection Standards (WPS), including frequently asked WPS questions, that came into effect January 2018. While the new WPS standard took effect, there were some gaps in some aspects of the training resources available to growers.

New WPS resources

The Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative has new resources now available on their website, including: 1) WPS Agricultural Employer Handbook; 2) WPS training videos for workers and handlers in English and Spanish; 3) manual for trainers of workers and handlers in Spanish; 4) online train-the-trainer course; and 5) seed treatment manual and exam bank.

  1. New WPS Agricultural Employer Handbook, in English and Spanish. It is formatted as a small booklet (4.25-inch by 5.5-inch) and useful as a handout when training and inspecting agricultural employers under the WPS.
  2. New WPS training videos for workers and handlers in English and Spanish. Featuring scenes from row crops, nurseries, vineyards, orchards and other settings, these new videos are EPA-approved, bilingual and ready for download.
  3. New manual for trainers of workers and handlers in Spanish. This 280-page manual includes basic principles of the WPS, essential training elements, sample exercises and a glossary of terms.
  4. New online course for training trainers. This web-based course provides the information required to train those who will train agricultural workers and pesticide handlers under the WPS. It is self-paced with 12 modules, quizzes and a final exam. The course costs $35 and requires two to three hours to complete. You must check with your state or tribal pesticide regulatory agency for possible additional requirements. *Note: This online course replaces the Iowa State University Extension WPS: Train-the-Trainer available last year.
  5. New seed treatment manual and exam bank. The purpose of this 86-page training manual is to provide study material for people interested in becoming a certified pesticide applicator in the seed treatment category or subcategory in their respective states, tribes or U.S. territories. It covers the basic knowledge and skills required to safely, effectively and correctly apply pesticides to seeds. An accompanying item exam bank is available through EPA.

New WPS resource bundle for purchase

In addition to the new resources available on the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative website, the National Pesticide Safety and Education Center is offering a bundle of seven WPS products for $81.01. The bundle of printed or tangible products includes:

  • One set of one Spanish and one English National Worker Protection Standard: A Manual for Trainers
  • One How to Comply Manual
  • One Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative Respiratory Guide
  • One Rutgers Respiratory Guide
  • One large English/bilingual poster
  • One set of one Spanish and one English Agricultural Workers and Pesticide Handlers DVDs
  • Two-pack of WPS Employer Handbooks

New online store to purchase pesticide safety training manuals

The National Pesticide Safety and Education Center also offers all of the Michigan Pesticide Applicator Core and Category Pesticide Safety Training Manuals, which were previously available directly from the MSU Extension Bookstore. The manuals you can purchase on the National Pesticide Safety and Education Center website include:

Category number

Michigan pesticide applicator pesticide safety training manuals

Cost

None

Commercial Applicator Core Manual & Michigan Addendum

$30

None

Private Applicator Core Manual & Michigan Addendum

$30

None

Commodity Fumigation: Training Manual

$9

1A

Field Crops Manual

$30

1B

Vegetable Crops Manual

$16

1C

Fruit Crops Manual

$13

1D

Livestock Manual

$9

2

Forest Pest Management Guide for Commercial Applicators

$15.50

3A

Turfgrass Pest Management Manual

$20

3B

Ornamental Pest Management Manual

$20

4

Seed Treatment Manual

$20

5

Aquatic Pest management Manual

$15

5A

Swimming Pool

$5

5B

Microbial Pest Management Manual

$13

5C

Sewer Line Root Control

$10

6

Right-of-Way Pest Management

$7

7A

General Pest Management Guide

$25.50

7B

Wood Destroying Pest Management

$10

7D

Vertebrate Pest Management

$10.70

7F

Mosquito Control

$22.50

7G

Small Animal

$14

WPS and respirator fit-testing meetings in Michigan

Once again, the MSU Extension floriculture team has set up a series of annual respirator fit testing meetings that may include information on what to expect during a WPS inspection in the state of Michigan.

  • Jan. 10, 2019: What to Expect During a WPS Inspection and Respirator Maintenance and Safety. Fillmore Complex in West Olive, Michigan. Register online by Jan. 8.
  • Feb. 28, 2019: Respirator Maintenance, Safety and Fit-Testing. MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center in Novi, Michigan. Registration opening soon. Contact: W. Garrett Owen.

WPS articles from MSU Extension

For more information on the updated WPS, please check out previous articles published by MSU Extension:

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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