Pesticide use at Iowa State University falls into two broad categories: agricultural and non-agricultural pesticide use. Pesticide use under non-agricultural conditions falls under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requirements and is also regulated by PPE policies.
Agricultural use
The pesticides used in greenhouses, research plots, and production fields are considered agricultural pesticide use. Personnel applying pesticides or working in the areas where they have been applied are subject to the EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requirements.
The WPS is a regulation aimed at reducing the risk of pesticide poisoning and injuries among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. The WPS contains requirements for pesticide safety training, notification of pesticide applications, use of personal protective equipment, restricted entry intervals following pesticide application, decontamination supplies, and emergency medical assistance.
If your work with pesticides falls under the agricultural pesticide use category, then the following training is required:
- Hazard Communication Training (Workday Learning)
- Agricultural Pesticide Safety Training (Worker Protection Standard) (Workday Learning)
Non-agricultural use
If your work with pesticides falls under the non-agricultural pesticide use category, then you must complete Hazard Communication Training (Workday Learning).
Pesticide use in campus buildings
Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) coordinates pesticide application in campus buildings and on campus grounds.
