2010 Fumigant Handler

and Worker Protection Measures

Western Regions Pesticide Meeting

May 2010

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Who is a handler?

• A person in the application block from the start of the application until the entry restricted period ends (2010), and

• A person in the buffer zone from the start of the application until the buffer zone period ends (2011).

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Handler activities include:• Participating in the application as supervisors, loaders, drivers,

tractor co-pilots, shovelers, cross ditchers, or as other direct application participants;

• Using devices to take air samples to monitor fumigant air concentrations;

• Cleaning up fumigant spills (this does not include emergency personnel not associated with the fumigation application);

• Handling or disposing of fumigant containers;

• Cleaning, handling, adjusting, or repairing the parts of fumigation equipment that may contain fumigant residues;

• Installing, repairing, operating, or removing irrigation equipment in the application block or surrounding buffer zone during the buffer zone period;

• Entering the application block or surrounding buffer zone during the buffer zone period to perform scouting, crop advising, or monitoring tasks;

• Installing, perforating, removing, repairing, or monitoring tarps

• Performing any handling tasks as defined by the WPS.

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Supervision of Handlers

• Non-water run applications (e.g., shank, hot gas)– “Certified applicators must be at the fumigation site in

the line of sight of the application and must directly supervise all persons performing handling activities”

• Water run applications (e.g., center pivot, drip)– Certified applicator must be at the site to begin the

application– Handlers under the supervision of certified applicator

must return every two hours to check on the application

• Communicate via cell phone or other means

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Handler Respiratory Protection

• Handlers must stop work or use respirators if air concentrations exceed acceptable limits or if they experience sensory irritation

• For methyl bromide formulations with < 20% chloropicrin, handlers must use respirators and monitor with devices to determine the air concentrations to ensure the upper working limit of the respirator is not exceeded.

Figure A. Requirements when handlers cease operations

Handler activity begins. Handlers are NOT wearing APRs.

Sensory Irritation

Certified applicator in charge decides to cease operations rather than continue with respirators.

Handlers must stop work and leave application block and buffer zone.

If 2 samples taken at least 15 minutes apart, show concentrations are less than the label

action level and NO sensory irritation, then

Resume operations.

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• If a handler puts on a respirator instead of stopping work then – Air concentration measurements must be

taken every 2 hours with direct-read detection devices

– If a handler experiences sensory irritation while wearing the respirator, work must stop

– In order to resume work, air monitoring must show concentrations are below the label’s trigger level, the handler must not experience any sensory irritation, and respirator cartridges must be changed

Handler Respiratory Protection

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Handlers who use respirators must be:

• fit-tested

• trained

• physically fit to wear a respirator*

* http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9783

2010 Tarp Perforation & Removal

andEntry Restrictions

Western Regions Pesticide Meeting

May 2010

Tarp Perforation and Removal

Perforation• 5 days after fumigant application is complete

Removal• 2 hours after perforation is complete

Planting• Less than 14 days after application:

– Plant 48 hours after tarp perforation is complete• 14 days or more after application:

– Perforate and plant simultaneously

Early Tarp Removal and Perforation• Early removal (before 5 days) for broadcast applications

is allowed– if adverse weather conditions (i.e., high wind, hail, storms) have

compromised the integrity of the tarp and the tarp poses a safety hazard.

• Early perforation is allowed for flood prevention activities – Tarps must be retucked and packed after soil removal

Other Tarp Perforation Measures• Each tarp panel used for broadcast applications must be

perforated.• Manual perforation may ONLY occur:

– At the beginning of each row when a coulter blade is used on a motorized vehicle such as an ATV, or

– In fields that are 1 acre or less, or– During flood prevention activities.

• In all other instances, tarps must be perforated only by mechanical methods

• Perforation for broadcast fumigations must be completed before noon

• For broadcast fumigations, tarps must not be perforated if rainfall is expected within 12 hours

Entry Restricted Period

• Current labels allow reentry after 48 hours

• Fumigant dissipation rate highly variable (soil conditions, application method, tarp type, etc.)

• Reentry time lengthened

Entry Restricted Period ≠ REI

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Entry Restricted Period: Untarped Applications

Shank Untarped

Drip Untarped

Center Pivot

5 days after application is complete

48 hours

Buffer Zone Period Begins

Entry Restricted

Period Begins

Application Ends

Buffer Zone Period Ends

Entry Restricted

Period Ends

Application Begins

5 days (120 hours)

Entry Restricted Period: Untarped Applications

10am Mon 10am Weds

10am Sat

Entry Restricted Period: Tarped Applications

If tarps are perforated and removed less than 14 days after application, entry into

the treated area is prohibited until the tarps are removed.

Entry Restricted Period: Tarped Applications

Entry Restricted

Period Begins

48 hours

Entry Restricted

Period Ends

Buffer Zone Period Begins

Application Begins

Application Ends

Buffer Zone Period Ends

Tarp Perforation

Begins

Tarp Perforation

Ends

Tarp Removal Begins

Tarp Removal

Ends

5 days (120 hours)

2 hours

10am Weds 10am Fri

10am Mon 11am Mon

1pm Mon

Entry Restricted Period: Tarped Applications

If tarps will not be removed for at least 14 days after the application but they will be perforated before 14 days, entry into the

treated areas is prohibited until 48 hours after tarps are perforated.

Entry Restricted Period: Tarped Applications

Entry Restricted

Period Begins

48 hours

Entry Restricted

Period Ends

Buffer Zone Period Begins

Application Begins

Application Ends

Buffer Zone Period Ends

Tarp Perforation

Begins

Tarp Perforation

Ends

Planting Can Begin

5 days (120 hours)

48 hours

3pm Weds 3pm Fri

2pm Weds

tarps will not be removed during the 14 days after the application is perforated

2pm Fri

Entry Restricted Period: Tarped Applications

If tarps are perforated and/or removed at least 14 days after the application is

complete, entry into the treated area is prohibited for 5 days

Entry Restricted Period: Tarped Applications

Entry Restricted

Period Begins

48 hours

Entry Restricted

Period Ends

Buffer Zone Period Begins

Application Begins

Application Ends

Buffer Zone Period Ends

Tarp Perforation & Planting

5 days (120 hours)

14 days

10am Tues 10am Thurs

tarps will not be perforated until a month after the application and the tarps will not be removed until 3 months after the application

10am Sun