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Resources

respirators lined up

For additional information, please visit the following online resources:

Guidance and manuals

OSHA General Respiratory Protection Guidance for Employers and Workers

PERC EPA WPS—How to Comply Manual

PERC EPA WPS Respiratory Protection Guide

Procedures

OSHA Fit Testing Procedures

OSHA Respirator Cleaning Procedures

OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire

OSHA User Seal Check Procedures

References and databases

CDC NIOSH Certified Equipment List

EPA Pesticide Product and Label System (pesticide label lookup)

National Pesticide Information Retrieval System (search products registered in Florida)

Sample forms

Cartridge and Filtering Facepiece Change Log

Individual Respirator Fit-Test Record

Respirator Medical Clearance Form

Respiratory Protection Compliance Checklist

Standards

EPA Agricultural Worker Protection Standard

OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard

Videos

Medical Evaluations for Workers Who Use Respirators

Respirator Fit-Testing

Respiratory Protection Training Requirements

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For example, all non-powered air-purifying respirators with any type of particulate filter (whether alone or in combination with a chemical cartridge) are now assigned NIOSH approval numbers containing the prefix TC-84A.  The new criteria also eliminated classification of particulate filters according to hazard, such as “dust mist fume,” and provided for three levels of filter efficiency (95%, 99%, 99.97%), available in a series of filter types based on resistance to oils (N, R, P).  More information on the classification of particulate filters is provided in the final section of the webpage.

NIOSH approval number prefixes, used on pesticide product labels to specify respirator requirements, indicate the approved class of respirator.  For example, the NIOSH approval number assigned to a non-powered air-purifying elastomeric respirator includes a prefix of TC-23C if it is equipped with a chemical cartridge only, or TC-84A if it is equipped with a combination chemical cartridge and particulate filter.  More information on NIOSH approval number prefixes is provided at the end of the webpage.

respirator on cement floor

TC-23C

TC-84A

Image: Adapted from PERC, 2017

The WPS may apply to you if you use a WPS-labeled pesticide product on an agricultural establishment in the production of agricultural plants and you are any of the following:

  • The owner or a person responsible for the management of an agricultural establishment that employs workers or handlers.
  • The owner of a family-owned agricultural establishment where you and/or your immediate family members are the only people who work on the establishment.
  • The owner or a person responsible for the management of a commercial (for-hire) pesticide handling establishment.
  • A pesticide handler.
  • A crop advisor.

A handler employer is any person who:

  • Is self-employed as a handler or
  • Employs others who perform any of the activities defined above that would
    make them a handler.
  • The term “handler employer” includes both commercial pesticide handler
    employers and agricultural employers who employ at least one handler.

An agricultural worker is anyone who is:

  1. Employed (including self-employed) in exchange for a salary or wages or other monetary compensation, and
  2. Doing tasks directly related to the production of agricultural plants on an agricultural establishment such as harvesting, weeding, carrying nursery stock, repotting plants, pruning or watering.

A pesticide handler is anyone who is:

  1. Employed (including self-employed) in exchange for a salary or wages or other monetary compensation by an agricultural establishment or a commercial pesticide handling establishment that uses pesticides in the production of agricultural plants, and
  2. Doing any of the following tasks:
    • Mixing, loading, transferring, applying or disposing of pesticides,
    • Handling opened containers of pesticides; emptying, triple-rinsing, or cleaning pesticide containers according to pesticide product labeling instructions; or disposing of pesticide containers that have not been cleaned,
    • Acting as a flagger,
    • Cleaning, adjusting, handling or repairing the parts of mixing, loading, or application equipment that may contain pesticide residues,
    • Assisting with the application of pesticides, including incorporating the pesticide into the soil after the application has occurred, or dipping plant cuttings in rooting hormones that are registered pesticides,
    • Entering a greenhouse or other enclosed space after application and before the inhalation exposure level listed on the pesticide product labeling has been reached or any ventilation criteria established by WPS (Chapter 3, Table 1. Entry Restrictions During Enclosed Space Production Pesticide Applications) or on the pesticide product labeling has been met to:
      • Operate ventilation equipment,
      • Adjust or remove coverings, such as tarps used in fumigation, or
      • Check air pesticide concentration levels,
    • Entering a treated area outdoors after application of any soil fumigant to adjust or remove soil coverings, such as tarps, or
    • Performing tasks as a crop advisor:
      • During any pesticide application,
      • During any restricted-entry interval, or
      • Before any inhalation exposure level listed on the pesticide product labeling has been reached or any ventilation criteria established by WPS or on the pesticide product labeling has been met.

An agricultural employer is any person who is an owner of, or is responsible for the management or condition of an agricultural establishment, and who employs any worker or handler.

Example:

A pesticide product is covered by the WPS if the following statement is in the Directions for Use section on the product labeling:

AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS

Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR 170. This standard contains requirements for the protection of agricultural workers on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses, and handlers of agricultural pesticides. It contains requirements for training, decontamination, notification, and emergency assistance. It also contains specific instructions and exceptions pertaining to the statements on this label about personal protective equipment, restricted-entry intervals and notification of workers.