Pesticide Handler Safety

Case Study: In 2007, the owner of a California almond grove completed an airblast application of chlorpyrifos, a dangerous insecticide, at the same time that 70 workers were pulling grape leaves and turning cane at a neighboring vineyard separated only by a narrow road. Despite a light wind blowing away from the vineyard, the majority of the workers began experiencing symptoms of pesticide poisoning, with 26 becoming sick that day or the following day. Lab tests on leaf samples taken on the day of the exposure and clothing worn by the exposed workers detected unsafe amounts of chlorpyrifos. The agricultural commissioner fined the almond grower $33,640 for proceeding with the application at the risk of exposing the nearby workers, for drifting pesticides onto them, and for deficiencies in the pesticide safety program the grower maintained for his own employees.

Key Takeaways: Even if wind seems sufficient to disperse a pesticide, never proceed with an application when people nearby are unprotected. When samples were taken again two days following this incident, no detectable amount of chlorpyrifos remained in the vineyard. The almond grower could have controlled insects in his grove and kept vineyard workers safe by complying with WPS requirements pertaining to timing and notification of pesticide applications. Had they been informed of the timing and toxicity of the chlorpyrifos application and performed their tasks just two days later, the more than 25 field workers who required medical treatment could have been kept healthy.