Pesticide Application Safety Committee

Background

In 2019 the Washington State Legislature passed Senate Substitute Bill 5550 establishing a Pesticide Application Safety Committee chaired jointly by the Washington State Departments of Health and Agriculture. It also formed a Pesticide Application Safety Advisory Workgroup. Learn more, 2018 report to the Legislature - Pesticide Application Safety Report (PDF).

Committee members include:

Reports to the Legislature

2024 Report to the Legislature (PDF)

2023 Report to the Legislature (PDF)

2022 Report to the Legislature (PDF)

Purpose of Committee

The committee will develop recommendations for improving the safety of pesticide application, Committee Charter (PDF). The following topics will be addressed.

Improve pesticide application safety.
Establish baseline data on types and quantity of pesticide applications.
Improve pesticide application communication.
Compile industry best practices.
Explore why some workers do not report pesticide exposure.
Explore new ways of reporting an exposure without fear of retaliation.
Explore training opportunities for when and how to report workplace exposures.
Explore incentives for using new spray technology and phase out old technology.
Consider developing an effective community health education plan.
Work with community partners to enhance educational initiatives.
Improve non-English pesticide labels.
Work with researchers to develop pesticide label translation apps.
Evaluate prevention techniques to reduce pesticide exposures.
Develop Spanish and other language communication products.
Explore development of an agricultural workforce education safety program.
Work with the agricultural industry and workforce to protocols and best practices.