ACRE Safety Thought #11

Handling treated seed or even treating seed packets with fungicide or insecticide or safener can expose workers to chemical exposure. Workers doing this need WPS training at a minimum and must be under the supervision of someone with a certified pesticide applicator’s license. Exposure can come from skin touching the treated seed or the chemical. Or exposure can come from inhalation. Depending on the procedure and the pesticide label certain Personal Protective Equipment safeguards need to be used. These PPE may include protective gloves, protective eye shields, or even a cartridge respirator. REM regularly provides our workers with WPS training. It is scheduled through the Agronomy Main Office. Certified Pesticide Applicator training comes from the Pesticide Office in Botany with testing and certification from the Indiana State Chemist’s Office in Biochemistry. Remember that every field worker at ACRE or the PACs is required to have the WPS training at a minimum. Think, plan, train, and work safely at the ACRE. Thanks Jim