This section contains information about complying with pesticide and worker protection laws. Included is information on pesticide licensing, health effects of pesticides, pesticide storage, understanding the label and sources of labels and MSDS sheets, complying with the Worker Protection Standard, PPE, laundering pesticide-contaminated clothing, heat stress, record keeping and calibration. Also included are environmental safety issues including how to protect surface and ground water, wildlife, and bees, as well as how to handle pesticide disposal and spills.

NC Pesticide Safety Education

• • NC Pesticide Safety Education - North Carolina State University Pesticide Safety Portal

General Information on Pesticide Use

• • • Pesticide Applicator Certification and Licensing - NC State University
    • English-Spanish List of Pesticide Terms - California Department of Pesticide Regulation

General Information on Health and Pesticide Application

• • • Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Home Page
    • Using Agricultural Pesticides Safely - Christmas Trees - English PDF /  Spanish Version - CropLife Foundation & NCCTA
    • Pesticide Exposure PDF - Spanish Version PDF - The Ohio State University Extension
    • Agriculture Health Study Publications -- research based information on how pesticides affect human health

Pesticide Storage

• • • What You Need to Know about Storing a Pesticide - Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Spanish Version
    • General Information on Pesticide Storage - Pesticide Environmental Stewardship
    • Checklists for Proper Pesticide Storage - Purdue University
    • Improving Storage and Handling of Pesticides - Farm*A*Syst -- NC State
    • Preventing Poisoning of Children - Pesticide Environmental Stewardship

Understanding the Pesticide Label

• • • What You Need to Know about Reading a Pesticide Label -  Spanish Version - Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension
    • Reading Pesticide Labels - Spanish Version - The Ohio State University Extension
    • Restricted Use Pesticide - University of Florida IFAS Extension
    • Finding Labels and Material Safety Data Sheets
      • Pesticides Used on Christmas Trees in North Carolina - NC State
      • Crop Data Management Systems - CDMS
      • Greenbook.net - The Greenbook Group

Worker Safety

• • • General Information

      • English and Spanish Protect Yourself from Pesticides: Guide for Agricultural Workers - EPA
      • What You Need to Know about Protecting Yourself From Pesticides  -  Spanish Version - Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension

  • • Worker Protection Standards (WPS)

      • Pesticides and Farmworker Health Toolkit - Information on how to order a safety training information toolkit for Latino farmworkers specifically designed for Christmas tree growers in North Carolina. Includes DVD for trainers, flip-chart in Spanish, and interactive materials including jug, labels, and symptom charade cards.
      • Key Definitions Related to WPS - NCDA&CS
      • Nebraska Guide to WPS - University of Nebraska - Lincoln Extension
      • The Worker Protection Standard in Christmas Trees - CropLife Foundation & NCCTA
      • WPS Checklist - link to a pdf from Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension
      • Restricted-Entry Intervals -  Spanish Version - The Ohio State University Extension
      • Acknowledgement Worker Training Form - North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension

  • • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

      • Skin Exposures to Pesticides and Other Chemicals - CDC
      • Guidelines on PPE
        • Personal Protective Equipment for Working With Pesticides - University of Missouri Extension
        • Laundering Pesticide-Contaminated Clothing - University of Missouri Extension
        • Respiratory Protective Devises for Pesticides - Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension
        • Properly Cleaning and Storing Respirators -  Spanish Version - The Ohio State University Extension
        • Respirator Fit -  Spanish Version - The Ohio State University Extension

  • • Laundering Clothes and Pesticides

      • Pesticide Contaminated Clothing Laundering -  Spanish Version - The Ohio State University Extension
      • Laundering Pesticide-Contaminated Clothing - University of Missouri Extension

Heat Stress and PPE

• • • Heat Stress - CDC
    • Heat Stress -  Spanish Version - The Ohio State University Extension
    • Hazard Alert: Heat Stress and Working in Hot Conditions - NC Department of Labor pdf
    • Heat Stress Brochure: 10 Myths - NC Department of Labor pdf
    • Heat Stress - NC Department of Labor video in Spanish on YouTube

Complying with Record Keeping

• • • Private Applicator Records Requirements - Pesticide Environmental Stewardship
    • New Record Keeping Requirements Worker Protection Standards Pesticide Applications - NCDA&CS
    • Form for WPS and Restricted Use Applications - NCDA&CS
      • USDA Recordkeeping Manual for Private Pesticide Applicators (Blue Book) - Form 1 & Form 2 - both forms required for complete records
    • Non-Private Pesticide Applicator Requirements - Pesticide Environmental Stewardship
    • Form for Commercial and Public Applicators - Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension
    • Smart Items to Record - Pesticide Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Safety - Handling Containers

• • • Recycling Pesticide Containers – Christmas Trees – CropLife Foundation & NCCTA
    • North Carolina Pesticide Container Recycling Locations - NCDA&CS
    • Handling Containers - Pesticide Environmental Stewardship
    • Planning Emergency Response to Pesticide Spills – Christmas Trees – CropLife Foundation & NCCTA