Cultivating Caution

Universities play a critical role in setting standards for safety and environmental responsibility, especially when it comes to pesticide use in research, teaching, and grounds management. 

It is essential that all CALS departments strictly adhere to the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) — a federal regulation administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — to ensure the health and safety of faculty, researchers, staff and students who may come into contact with agricultural pesticides. 

Compliance with WPS helps prevent pesticide-related illnesses and enforces best practices in training, personal protective equipment, recordkeeping, and restricted entry intervals. Department heads, faculty and researchers must be proactive in maintaining compliance not only to meet legal requirements, but also to uphold the university’s commitment to safety and environmental stewardship. 

For more information on how to comply with WPS regulations, visit the EPA’s WPS page: www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/worker-protection-standard-wps. CALS employees should go to their supervisor or NC State University’s Environmental Health and Safety for additional guidance.