Limited-Contact Early-Entry Tasks with No Hand Labor

Early-entry workers may enter treated areas to perform limited-contact tasks before the restricted-entry interval is met, provided all of the following conditions are met:

• The early-entry tasks do not involve hand labor.
• The early-entry tasks will not require workers to have more than minimal contact with pesticide treated surfaces.
• Contact with treated surfaces will be limited to workers' feet, lower legs, hands, and forearms.
• The need for the early-entry could not have been foreseen when the pesticide was applied.
• If the early-entry tasks were delayed, the delay would cause significant economic loss, and there are no alternative measures that would prevent the loss.
• The Agricultural Use Requirement box on the pesticide's label does not contain the following "double notification" statement: "Notify workers of the application by warning them orally and by posting warning signs at entrances to treated areas."
• The pesticide product does not contain a restriction prohibiting any person other than a trained and equipped handler from entering the treated area during the restricted-entry interval.

Each limited-contact early-entry worker must be provided with either the PPE required on the pesticide label for early entry into treated areas or a standard set of PPE consisting of coveralls, chemical-resistant gloves, chemical-resistant footwear, socks, and protective eyewear. He or she must also be provided with all of the protections required for early-entry workers, as well as oral or written notification of the following:

• The establishment is relying on this exception to allow workers to enter treated areas to complete limited-contact tasks.
• No entry is allowed for the first four hours after application and until any label-specified inhalation exposure level has been reached or any applicable ventilation criteria have been met.
• The time the worker spends in any treated area where a restricted-entry interval is in effect cannot exceed eight hours in any 24-hour period.

Employers must make sure that each limited-contact early-entry worker adheres to these requirements.

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