What is the primary goal of EPA's Worker Protection Standard (WPS)?

The primary goal of the EPA's Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is to reduce occupational pesticide exposure among workers. This regulation aims to safeguard agricultural workers from the potential health risks associated with handling pesticides. By implementing the WPS, the EPA establishes protocols that employers must follow to protect their employees, including requirements for training, notification, and personal protective equipment. These measures significantly reduce the risks of pesticide-related illnesses and accidents in agricultural settings, thereby promoting a safer working environment.

While training agricultural workers on pesticide safety is an important component of the WPS, it serves the broader purpose of reducing exposure. Monitoring pesticide effectiveness is also not a primary purpose of the WPS, as it focuses more on the protection of workers rather than the performance of pesticides in the field. Increasing pesticide sales does not align with the goals of the WPS, which is centered on health and safety rather than commercial interests.