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:

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