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:
- Senator Rebecca Saldaña
- Representative Tom Dent
- Lillian Ortiz-Self
- Senator Judy Warnick
- Washington State Department of Health
- Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources
- Washington State University CAHNRS
- Washington State University Cooperative Extension
- University of Washington PNASH Center
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.
Meeting Schedule
Upcoming Meeting
April 19, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. to Noon
Location: 220 Legislative Building, 416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW, Olympia, WA 98504 Senate Rules Room
Past Meetings
November 1, 2023
View November 1, 2023 Zoom Meeting
Agenda - November 1, 2023 (PDF)
Meeting Materials - November 1, 2023 (PDF)
August 30, 2023
View August 30, 2023 Zoom Meeting
Meeting Materials - August 30, 2023 (PDF)
Meeting Minutes - August 30, 2023 (PDF)
May 12, 2023
View May 12, 2023 Zoom Meeting
Agenda and Meeting Materials - May 12, 2023 (PDF)
August 10, 2022
View August 10, 2023 meeting, Zoom
Agenda - August 10, 2022 (PDF)
December 17, 2019
View December 17, 2019 meeting, TVW
Agenda - December 17, 2019 (PDF)
October 24, 2019
View October 24, 2019 meeting, TVW
Agenda - October 24, 2019 (PDF)