FROM UC Pesticide SAFETY AND EDUCATION GROUP: 

We are in the midst of a new and changing era of Worker Protection Standards (WPS). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) recently published the revised WPS, which is meant to increase protections for agricultural fieldworkers and pesticide handlers from pesticide exposure when they're working in farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses. The changes are already affecting California agriculture!

 What major regulatory changes have already gone into effect?

Several changes are required to have been in place as of January 2, 2017. These include:

* All 417,000 fieldworkers in California must attend annual pesticide safety training.

* Records of all fieldworker pesticide safety trainings must be kept on file for 2 years.

* Fields must be posted when the restricted entry interval (REI) exceeds 48 hours.

* “Application-exclusion zones” must be implemented to prevent the entry of anyone into areas up to 100 feet from pesticide application equipment.

* Instructors previously qualified via a DPR-approved Instructor Training programs (Train the Trainer) are qualified to train through 2017. If you wish to be qualified to train fieldworkers and handlers after December 31, 2017 using this qualification, you must complete an updated, DPR-approved Train the Trainer workshop.

 Now is the time to make sure these changes are put in place!

 What major regulatory changes are still in store for us? When will they happen?

The regulatory changes that must be in place by January 2, 2018 include:

 * Additional training topics for fieldworkers and handlers have to be added to the curriculum.

* Handlers have to suspend an application if anyone enters the application exclusion zone.

Who do these changes affect?

Many people who work in the California agricultural community will be impacted by the WPS revisions. These include fieldworkers, pesticide handlers, farm labor contractors, private and in-house safety trainers, growers, farm managers, licensed pesticide applicators (private and commercial), pest control advisors (PCAs), and crop consultants, to name a few.

How do I know if I am qualified to train?

If you attended one of the DPR-approved Train-the-Trainer programs you are qualified through 2017. However, if you wish to continue training after the end of the year, you must complete a DPR-approved Instructor Training Program, which includes the 2018 training topic requirements.

If you maintain certain licenses/government designations, including PAC, QAC, QAL, PCA, and certain County Biologist licenses you are qualified to train. UCCE Advisors are also qualified to train.

How can I get qualified as a trainer?

To become a trainer, take an Instructor Training program that is approved by DPR for 2018 topics. The University of California Pesticide Safety Education Program (part of the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, UC IPM), in partnership with AgSafe, will offer multiple workshops this spring that cover the new federal requirements for fieldworker and handler training. You can reserve your spot now. At the end of the training you will be a certified pesticide safety instructor.

If I am currently qualified, how can I make sure I stay up to date on all the new requirements?

If you are currently qualified as a trainer because you maintain a California PAC, QAC, or QAL, or if you are a PCA, you can attend an Instructor Training Program this spring to learn about the new WPS requirements and additional training topics. While a certification may qualify you, an Instructor Training Program will prepare you to train! Register today!

I just received information about the upcoming dates, times, and locations (when we have the details) for the Pesticide Safety Train the Trainer workshops.  

Instructor Training Workshops 2017

UC IPM will offer pesticide safety trainings across the state of California starting again in February 2017.

Participants who complete this training will become qualified to provide pesticide safety training to fieldworkers and pesticide handlers, as required by California state regulations and the EPA revised Worker Protection Standard. Train-the-Trainer instruction and materials are funded in part by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR).

For more information and to be updated about when the registration is open, please see the UC IPM training page www.ipm.ucanr.edu/EVENTS. For specific questions please email pesticidesafety@ucanr.edu 

UC IPM ofrecerá capacitaciones de seguridad de pesticidas en todo el estado de California de nuevo a partir de febrero 2017.

Los participantes en este programa serán calificados para entrenar a los trabajadores de campo y a los aplicadores de pesticidas, como es requerido por las regulaciones del estado de California, he incluso el Estándar de Protección del Trabajador revisado por EPA. La instrucción y materiales para esta capacitación son financiados en parte por el Departamento de Regulaciones de Pesticidas de California (CDPR).

I highlighted the trainings in/close to S. California

From Lisa Blecker, Pesticide Safety Education Coordinator for UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management program (UC IPM):

We want your opinion on CE units! You could win a $25 Visa gift card and will get 25% off your next book purchase.

Please provide your input on online courses for continuing education (CE). We'll use your feedback to improve our learning environment for continuing education units offered through UC IPM.

After you have completed the survey, the confirmation page will include a promotion code that you can use it to get 25% off retail orders placed through our online catalog (http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/). Hurry! The promo code ends on December 31, 2015.

Leave your email address to be entered into a drawing for a $25 Visa gift card. Drawing will be held on December 31, 2015 as well.

Take the survey now before time runs out: http://ucanr.edu/onlinece.

If you need more information or have comments, please contact Lisa directly:

Lisa Blecker
Pesticide Safety Education 

lblecker@ucanr.edu