CONTAMINANT: Pesticides
ORGIN: Moldex Technical Services Department
DATE: February 19, 2019
REVIEWED/UPDATED:
Overview
In November of 2015 the EPA updated and revised its regulations regarding agricultural workers, pesticide handlers and other persons under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). This regulation covers many aspects on the safe use and handling of pesticides for agricultural use.
The regulation requires that pesticide product labels specify a respirator that is to be used with the respective product. When a respirator is required by the pesticide product labeling, the handler must ensure that certain elements of 29 CFR 1910.134 Respiratory Protection be complied with. It requires that fit testing, training and medical evaluations be performed in accordance with 1910.134. Although the EPA regulation does not explicitly state that all the elements of the OSHA Respiratory Protection standard be complied with, it is certainly recommended that the user do so, and should also check with local, state and federal regulators for further guidance.
Affected Industries or General Applications:
Farms • Gardens • Green Houses • Orchards • Crop Dusting
Moldex® Solution
Depending upon what is stated on the pesticide label, users may consider disposable respirators with N, R or P filters, elastomeric half-mask or full-face respirators with N, R or P Filters, chemical cartridge or a combination thereof.
Safety and Health Resources:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-11-02/pdf/2015-25970.pdf
EPA:
https://www.epa.gov/pesticides
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/label-review-manual#VI_A
https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol
WHO:
https://www.who.int/topics/pesticides/en/
OSHA: 29CFR 1910.134
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=12716&p_table=standards
Reference(s):
Moldex:
Respirators – http://stage.moldex.com/product-category/respiratory-protection/
Chemical Selection Guide –
https://d39h3jljy1qzlj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019-Chemical-Selection-Guide-RevAC.pdf
WARNING: The information contained in this Tech Brief is dated and was accurate to the best of Moldex’s knowledge, on the date above. It is not meant to be comprehensive, nor is it intended to be used in place of the warning/use instructions that accompany Moldex respirators. Outside of the USA, check with all applicable and local government regulations.
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