All News Releases By Date

PA EPA PLANS PUBLIC MEETINGS ON WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD

Release Date: 2/9/96
Contact Information:

PA EPA PLANS PUBLIC MEETINGS ON WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1996

EPA PLANS PUBLIC MEETINGS ON WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD

EPA will hold a series of public meetings around the country to assess the first full year of implementation of new regulations designed to protect the health of more than 3.5 million agricultural workers who are exposed to pesticides on the job. The regulations, known as Worker Protection Standard (WPS), specify minimum pesticide safety training, information exchange and other safeguards for workers who mix, handle or use pesticides, or who may come into contact with pesticides while working on farms or in forests, nurseries and greenhouses. The public meetings will provide an opportunity for both workers and employers to relay actual experiences and "lessons learned" in the course of WPS implementation. The information will be used by EPA and cooperating state officials and organizations to improve WPS administration. The first meeting will be held on Feb. 22 in Winter Haven, Florida in the Nora May Hall at the Florida Citrus Building, 500 3rd St., N.W. Persons who wish to speak at the meeting may register onsite beginning at 5 p.m. EPA will open the meeting with brief introductory comments at 7 p.m. and then invite those who have registered to present their comments. Persons who cannot attend the public meeting but wish to comment may do so by submitting written comments to: Jeanne Haying, Office of Pesticide Programs (7506C), U.S. EPA, 401 M St.,S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. Telephone: 703-305-7164; fax: 703-308-2962. Additional meetings will be held from April through September in Mississippi, Washington, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Indiana, California, Puerto Rico and the Washington, D.C. area. More details on locations and dates will be announced later.

R-11 # # #