Much of the talk that surrounds pesticide use is about how much of it makes it into our food.
Environmental damage is a close second.
But I don’t often think about the workers who have the task of actually applying the chemicals. They can suffer too.
This morning, when I read the fourth-quarter report of fines and license suspensions issued by the Washington State Department of Agriculture in 2007, I had to think about it.
Fines ranged from $200 to $2,000 for incidents that involved failing to comply with pesticide worker protection standards and applying pesticides that damaged property and made by-standing construction workers ill.
One violation that stood out for me went like this: “Gunkel Orchards, Inc., Goldendale. WSDA alleged that the farm was not in compliance with rules covering worker protection standards during an inspection in May 2007. Pesticide handlers had not been fit-tested for wearing their respirators and were not provided with emergency eye-flush water. Personal protective equipment was not properly cleaned and stored and some workers were not adequately trained about pesticide safety. The matter was resolved when Gunkel Orchards agreed to pay $1,600.”
Respirators? Eye-flush water? Protective equipment?
Not only does this sound rough for the allegedly less-than-informed workers, it makes me seriously question the long-term effects of pesticides in people, in food and in the environment.
Another violation went like this: “Rex Smith, Smith Air Inc., Odessa. WSDA alleged that in June 2007 a pesticide application made by Smith to a wheat field in Lincoln County drifted onto several construction workers who were working on a road adjacent to the field. Several of the workers became ill from the exposure. The matter was settled when Smith agreed to pay $2,000 and have his license suspended for 49 days.”
If you have a keen interest in WSDA issues, you can subscribe to the department’s listserv here.
You can read the full press release about the recent violations in the WSDA news archive here.
To file a complaint involving the misuse of a pesticide, or to find out if a pesticide applicator or structural pest inspector is licensed, call 877-301-4555.
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