Under the Worker Protection Standard, who is primarily responsible for ensuring the safety of workers in pesticide application?

The primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of workers involved in pesticide application falls on the employer, as specified under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). This regulation is designed to protect agricultural workers from the risks associated with pesticide exposure. Employers are tasked with providing necessary training, safety equipment, and measures to minimize workers' exposure to pesticides.

This includes ensuring that sufficient safety information is readily available, providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and implementing decontamination procedures. The WPS mandates that employers take proactive steps to safeguard their employees’ health, making them crucial in maintaining a safe working environment.

While pesticide manufacturers play a role in offering safety data and guidelines on their products, and government agencies enforce regulations and provide oversight, it is ultimately the employer who is responsible for the direct implementation of safety measures in the workplace. Workers are advised to follow safety protocols, but the liability and accountability rest primarily with employers.