Pesticide Handler Hazards Safety

Online Training Certification Course

from the highest rated and most trusted online training company - since 2008.

A pesticide handler is anyone involved in mixing, loading, handling, transferring, or applying pesticides. Despite their widespread and numerous uses, unsafe pesticide exposure can cause harm to pesticide handlers and their families.

Our online certification course addresses the risks of pesticide exposure, symptoms of pesticide poisoning, and ways to protect yourself while working with pesticides. Pesticide training is an important component of an agricultural or commercial pesticide handling establishment's overall safety training program. This online training course details important information, protection, and mitigation measures to limit the negative effects of pesticides that a pesticide handler might come into contact with.

What are the governing regulations?
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Agricultural Worker Protection Standard contains requirements for protecting agricultural pesticide handlers. The details of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) are found in 40 CFR 170. While the WPS covers both agricultural workers and pesticide handlers, the content of this course focuses on WPS requirements that apply to pesticide handlers and their employers.

Who must take this training?
Anyone who is exposed to pesticides on the job should understand the hazards of unsafe exposure to pesticides and be familiar with safe work practices that minimize the risk of injury or poisoning. Numerous work activities may fall under a pesticide handler designation, such as acting as a flagger, performing tasks as a crop advisor during pesticide application, disposing of pesticides, and more. Pesticide handlers are also those who mix, load, or apply agricultural pesticides; clean or repair pesticide application equipment; or assist with the application of pesticide.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Click to Learn More What are the consequences of not training?

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 Takeaway: 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.

Click to Learn More What people are saying about this course.

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Click to Learn More Course topics.

Specific topics covered in this course include:

About This Course
Course Objectives
Introduction to EPA Pesticide Safety Training
- What Are Pesticides?
- Introduction to the EPA Agricultural Worker Protection Standard
- Pesticide Exposure Types
- Pesticide Exposure Health Risks
- Injury Statistics
- Key Terms
Pesticide Handling Safety
- Transporting Pesticides
- Storing Pesticides
- Mixing and Loading Pesticides
- Cleaning Up Pesticide Spills
- Cleaning Pesticide Containers
- Disposing of Pesticides and Pesticide Containers
- Flagging for Aerial Application
- Applying Pesticides
- Cleaning Up After Handling Pesticides
- Responding to a Pesticide Exposure Emergency
- Pesticide Exposure First Aid
EPA Agricultural Worker Protection Standard
- Information, Protection, and Mitigation Requirements
- Employers and Pesticide Uses Covered by the WPS
- Pesticide Uses Not Covered by the WPS
- Protected Parties
- Agricultural Owner Exemptions
- New WPS Requirements
Employer Requirements for Protecting Workers and Handlers
- Centralized Information
- Pesticide Safety Poster Criteria
- Centralized Information Accessibility
- Pesticide Safety Training
- Handler Trainer Qualifications
- Required Content for Handler Training
- Decontamination Supplies
- Employer Information Exchange
- Emergency Assistance
Additional Employer Requirements for Protecting Pesticide Handlers
- Restrictions During Applications and Requirements for Monitoring Handlers
- Specific Instructions for Handlers
- Equipment Safety
- Personal Protective Equipment
- When to Replace or Dispose of Personal Protective Equipment
- Exceptions to Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
- Closed System Exceptions to Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
- Enclosed Cab Exceptions to Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
- Aircraft Exceptions to Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
Summary
Additional Resources
Exam

Click to Learn More Course format.

Our Pesticide Handling Training course consists of content, graphics, audio, self-check questions, and a final exam.

Click to Learn More How long is the course?

It will take a MINIMUM of 2 hours to complete this online course. The student may log on and off as needed. A bookmark will be set so when they log back in they will return to where they left off.

Click to Learn More How long do I have to complete this course?

We have no restrictions on how long a person takes to complete a course.

Likewise, if you are purchasing for others, we have no time limit on assigning courses. So you can purchase a larger quantity then you currently need and take advantage of volume discounts.

Click to Learn More How often is retraining or recertification required?

Pesticide handlers and workers must receive WPS training annually, counting from the end of the month in which the previous training took place.

Click to Learn More How soon is the certificate of completion issued?

Upon successful completion each student will have immediate access to a printable certificate and wallet card.

Click to Learn More Continuing education credits?

Each student will receive 0.2 CEUs (or 2 CMEs) from Compliance Training Online® for completing this course.

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How Many Students?
Who Is Taking This Course? Yourself Select if you are purchasing this course to take yourself. It will automatically be assigned to you. Yourself & Others Select if you are purchasing more than one of this course for both yourself and others. One will be assigned to you automatically, and you can assign the remainder at any time after you have completed the purchase. Others Select if you are purchasing one or more of this course for others. You can assign them at any time after you have completed the purchase.