Resources available for cherry growers
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
YELLOW BAY — The Montana Dept. of Agriculture (MDA) is offering a free informative meeting on the Worker Protection Standard and the recent revisions to the standard, to be held Wednesday, July 27, at 3 p.m. at the Yellow Bay Community Clubhouse, Highway 35, mile-marker 18.
In October 2015 the Environmental Protection Agency revised the 1992 Worker Protection Standard regulation to increase protection from pesticide exposure for the nation’s two million agricultural workers and their families. These changes are intended to afford farm workers similar health protections that are already afforded to workers in other industries while taking into account the unique working environment of many agricultural jobs.
The regulation seeks to protect and reduce the risks of injury or illness resulting from agricultural workers’ (those who perform hand-labor tasks in pesticide-treated crops, such as harvesting, thinning, pruning) and pesticide handlers’ (those who mix, load and apply pesticides) use and contact with pesticides on farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses.
Kima Caddell, MDA Specialist, will present an overview of the new requirements, timelines for implementation and enforcement of the new WPS, availability of new materials, and will specifically address the areas that may require the most adjustment for growers and other agriculture employers: respiratory protection requirements, application exclusion Zones and requirements for recordkeeping of applications and employee training. The meeting will last until 4:30 p.m. with plenty of time for questions. The MDA is also looking to hear from stakeholders as to what WPS resources are needed.
Attend this meeting to learn about the changes and help us provide the resources you need.
For more information contact Kima at 406-257-9015 or kcaddell@mt.gov
