[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 40, Volume 23]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 40CFR170.250]



[Page 233-234]

 

                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

 

         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 170_WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD--Table of Contents

 

                Subpart C_Standard for Pesticide Handlers

 

Sec.  170.250  Decontamination.



    (a) Requirement. During any handling activity, the handler employer 

shall provide for handlers, in accordance with this section, 

decontamination supplies for washing off pesticides and pesticide 

residues.

    (b) General conditions. (1) The handler employer shall provide 

handlers with enough water for routine washing, for emergency 

eyeflushing, and for washing the entire body in case of an emergency. At 

all times when the water is available to handlers, the handler employer 

shall assure that it is of a quality and temperature that will not cause 

illness or injury when it contacts the skin or eyes or if it is 

swallowed.

    (2) When water stored in a tank is to be used for mixing pesticides, 

it shall not be used for decontamination or eye flushing, unless the 

tank is equipped with properly functioning valves or other mechanisms 

that prevent movement of pesticides into the tank.

    (3) The handler employer shall provide soap and single-use towels in 

quantities sufficient to meet handlers' needs.

    (4) The handler employer shall provide one clean change of clothing, 

such as coveralls, for use in an emergency.

    (c) Location. The decontamination supplies shall be located together 

and be reasonably accessible to and not more than \1/4\ mile from each 

handler during the handling activity.

    (1) Exception for mixing sites. For mixing activities, 

decontamination supplies shall be at the mixing site.

    (2) Exception for pilots. Decontamination supplies for a pilot who 

is applying pesticides aerially shall be in the airplaine or at the 

aircraft loading site.

    (3) Exception for handling pesticides in remote areas. When handling 

activities are performed more than 1/4 mile from the nearest place of 

vehicular access:

    (i) The soap, single-use towels, clean change of clothing, and water 

may be



[[Page 234]]



at the nearest place of vehicular access.

    (ii) The handler employer may permit handlers to use clean water 

from springs, streams, lakes, or other sources for decontamination at 

the remote work site, if such water is more accessible than the water 

located at the nearest place of vehicular access.

    (4) Decontamination supplies in treated areas. The decontamination 

supplies shall not be in an area being treated with pesticides or in an 

area under a restricted-entry interval, unless:

    (i) The decontamination supplies are in the area where the handler 

is performing handling activities;

    (ii) The soap, single-use towels, and clean change of clothing are 

in enclosed containers; and

    (iii) The water is running tap water or is enclosed in a container.

    (d) Emergency eyeflushing. To provide for emergency eyeflushing, the 

handler employer shall assure that at least 1 pint of water is 

immediately available to each handler who is performing tasks for which 

the pesticide labeling requires protective eyewear. The eyeflush water 

shall be carried by the handler, or shall be on the vehicle or aircraft 

the handler is using, or shall be otherwise immediately accessible.

    (e) Decontamination after handling activities. At the end of any 

exposure period, the handler employer shall provide at the site where 

handlers remove personal protective equipment, soap, clean towels, and a 

sufficient amount of water so that the handlers may wash thoroughly.



[57 FR 38151, Aug. 21, 1992, as amended at 61 FR 33213, June 26, 1996]