Basic Pesticide Safety Information for Untrained Workers

Before untrained workers enter treated areas on the establishment where, within the past 30 days, a pesticide has been applied or a restricted-entry interval has been in effect, employers must provide them with basic pesticide safety information.

Basic pesticide information includes the fact that pesticides may be in plants, soil, or irrigation water or drifting from nearby applications. It also includes the following guidelines for preventing pesticides from entering the body:

• Follow directions and signs about keeping out of treated or restricted areas.
• Wash before eating, drinking, using chewing gum or tobacco, or using the restroom.
• Wear work clothing that protects your body from pesticide residues.
• Wash or shower with soap and water, shampoo your hair, and put on clean clothing after work.
• Wash work clothes separately from other clothes before wearing them again.
• If pesticides are spilled or sprayed on your body, wash immediately in the nearest clean water, and then as soon as possible, shower, shampoo, and change into clean clothes.

Inform workers that they will receive more training within five days, or at least before their sixth day of work in pesticide-treated areas on the establishment. Employers must be able to verify that they provided this information.

To learn more about Pesticide Worker Safety visit our Pesticide Worker Safety Online Training web page.