Who is considered a worker under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS)?

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is designed to protect agricultural workers from exposure to pesticides. A key aspect of this standard is identifying who qualifies as a worker. In this context, a worker is specifically recognized as someone who is in contact with pesticide-treated plants.

This includes individuals who might be involved in activities such as planting, cultivating, watering, or harvesting crops that have been treated with pesticides. The rationale here is that these workers are the most likely to encounter residues or be directly impacted by the chemicals used, thereby necessitating the protections stipulated under the WPS.

In contrast, individuals applying pesticides in agriculture, while also important, fall under a different classification that is often related to applicator standards rather than worker protection. Similarly, those using pesticides in non-agricultural settings do not fall within the scope of the WPS, as the standard is strictly focused on agricultural contexts. Employers, while having important responsibilities for their workers' safety, are not considered "workers" under this standard; their role is more about compliance and ensuring the protections are in place for their workforce.