Decontamination Supplies for Early-Entry Workers

Worker employers must provide early-entry workers with decontamination supplies for washing off pesticides and pesticide residues. These supplies include sufficient clean water for routine washing and emergency eye flushing, and an adequate quantity of soap and single-use towels to meet the individual needs of all of the early-entry workers. These decontamination supplies should be made reasonably accessible and should be located no more than one quarter mile away from the jobsite.

Decontamination supplies should not be located in an area that is being treated with pesticides. They should also not be located in an area that is currently under a restricted-entry interval, unless that location is necessary for the supplies to be reasonably accessible to the workers.

When the pesticide label requires protective eyewear for early entry, each early-entry worker must be provided with at least one pint of emergency eye flush water. The water should be immediately accessible - for example, the water should be carried by the worker, or be located in a vehicle the worker is using.

At the site where early-entry workers remove their PPE and undergo decontamination at the end of an exposure period, employers must provide soap, enough water for whole-body washing, and clean towels.

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