Fruits and vegetables are top items on many weekly shopping lists. We have been told to wash those apples, peaches, and broccoli that we buy before we eat them to protect ourselves from mistakenly ingesting pesticides. But what about the people who grow those fruits and vegetables for us, or pick them and ship them to us? How can they be protected from pesticides? In recognition of this concern, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for the benefit of agricultural workers and other pesticide handlers. Here's more about what it being done to protect those important workers.

Who is covered by the WPS?

• The WPS covers employees on farms or in forests, nurseries, and greenhouses. The EPA estimates that there are over 3.5 million people in the United States who work with pesticides at over 560,000 workplaces.
• Two different types of employees are covered:

• Pesticide handlers: Anyone who mixes, loads, or applies agricultural pesticides, cleans or repairs application equipment, or assists in any other way with the application of pesticides
• Agricultural workers: Anyone who performs job tasks relating to the cultivation and harvesting of plants on farms or in greenhouses, nurseries, or forests. These workers include anyone employed for any type of compensation (salaried, hourly, piecemeal, or self-employed) doing tasks such as carrying nursery stock, repotting plants, watering plants, or otherwise engaging in the production of agricultural plants.

Note: In general, workers do not include employees who work solely in the office, truck drivers, mechanics, or other individuals not engaged in worker activities. In some specific cases, the requirements do apply to all employees or to individuals who are not either typical handlers or workers, such as the person responsible for cleaning pesticide-contaminated personal protective equipment.