A pesticide is defined as any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest, or intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant.

All university personnel (includes faculty members, staff members, students, and any other university- affiliated individuals) who label, store, use, transport, dispose of, or clean up spills of pesticides are responsible for adhering to federal and state regulations, as well as the Cornell Health & Safety Policy 2.4 [http://www.policy.cornell.edu/vol2_4.cfm].

It is essential that teaching, research, extension and exterior ground maintenance involving pesticide use be conducted properly and legally for the protection of the pesticide applicator, other employees, staff, students, public health, and the environment.

The responsibility for ensuring that all work with pesticides at Cornell is conducted properly and legally rests on the individual user.

Pesticide Certification. Cornell requires that all individuals handling pesticides as a part of university programs must be certified pesticide applicators. See policy at [http://www.policy.cornell.edu/vol2_4.cfm].

Exemptions from Pesticide Certification

1. Licensed veterinarians, as well as licensed veterinary technicians, interns, residents, and veterinary students working under the direct supervision of a veterinarian in a veterinary facility (any building operated by the College of Veterinary Medicine) are exempt from the certified applicator/technician/apprentice requirement when engaged in the use of general-use pesticides.

2. Small laboratory quantities of pesticides used for analysis and treatment of samples in a laboratory and in an environmentally non-dispersive manner (defined as minute quantity used inside a hood, etc.) are exempt from this policy. Like all other chemical use in the laboratory, use of laboratory quantity pesticides is regulated by OSHA's "Laboratory Standard" and other appropriate rules and regulations.

3. Testing of materials for pesticide efficacy, toxicity, or other properties could be exempted (for clarification, contact the Occupational and Environmental Health Program, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, or refer to Title 40 CFR, part 172.3).

4. Teaching/demonstration of pesticide application(s), as well as recommendation of pesticide application or use are exempted from the certified applicator/technician/apprentice requirement. However, the individual engaged in such activities is responsible for ensuring that these activities are compliant with federal, state, and local pesticide laws and regulations.

For more information regarding pesticide use requirements and exemptions, please refer to the Cornell Health & Safety Policy 2.4 [http://www.policy.cornell.edu/vol2_4.cfm].

Pesticide-Contaminated Clothing. All clothing that is worn while handling or applying pesticides is considered contaminated. Pesticide-contaminated clothing must be handled with care. The clothing should only be handled by the wearer prior to laundering. If necessary, handle all contaminated clothing with gloves. Contaminated clothing should be washed daily in small batches, separately from family or other laundry. Always prerinse or presoak clothing. Use hot water and a heavy duty liquid detergent in the highest water level. Use longest wash time and line dry when possible. For more information regarding washing pesticide contaminated clothing, please refer to the College of Human Ecology, Department of Textiles and Apparel website [http://www.human.cornell.edu/units/txa/extension/pest/laundering.cfm].

Pesticide Recordkeeping and Reporting. All commercially certified pesticide applicators are responsible for recordkeeping and annual reporting. Enforcement of accurate and complete record keeping and reporting of pesticide use is done by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Instructions for proper record keeping and reporting are available at http://oeh.cals.cornell.edu/pestmain.html.

Small-Scale Testing of Experimental Pesticides. Researchers who intend to apply experimental use pesticides off Cornell property during a growing season are required to perform additional recordkeeping requirements. These requirements are outlined by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and are available at http://oeh.cals.cornell.edu/pestmain.html.

Agricultural Employees (Field and Greenhouse) and the Worker Protection Standard. Worker Protection Standard (WPS) training is required by an EPA regulation. The training is designed to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from the risks of exposure to pesticide residues. An agricultural worker is anyone who does tasks, such as harvesting, weeding, or watering, related to the production of agricultural plants on farms, forests, nurseries, and in greenhouses. A pesticide handler is anyone who does tasks such as mixing, loading, transferring or applying pesticides, handling open pesticide containers, acting as a flagger or crop advisor, assisting with a pesticide application, cleaning or repairing application equipment, etc.

All College employees, including students, and students who handle agricultural plant materials as part of a research project must attend a training session 1) if those plant materials are treated with any type of pesticide, and 2) if the work with the plant material occurs within 30 days of the expiration of the restricted entry interval for the pesticide. Handlers and early-entry workers must attend WPS before doing any handler or early-entry task. All workers must attend WPS training within 5 days of beginning to work with pesticide-treated materials. Certified pesticide applicators do not need to attend. Every training session is valid for either field or greenhouse work.

An EPA Identification Card is issued for full-session attendance. This card should be presented to the manager of the appropriate facility so that the trainee÷s name can be added to the facility roster of trained persons. The cards are valid in any field or greenhouse in the United States for five years. Anyone who attended more than five years ago and who continues to work with pesticide-treated plants must attend training again.

For additional information on the Worker Protection Standard or the WPS training schedule, please refer to the CALS OEH web site http://oeh.cals.cornell.edu/pestmain.html or contact the Pesticide Program (5-0485, pesticides@cornell.edu).

Transportation of Pesticides. Any vehicle used in the transport of pesticides must be labeled with two current pesticide business registration decals. The decals are issued by the NYS DEC and are available from the CALS OEH Pesticide Program (CALS Surge Facility, 255-0485, pesticides@cornell.edu) or one of the other pesticide business registration contacts [http://oeh.cals.cornell.edu/regbus.html].

Disposal of Pesticides. All pesticide waste must be disposed of in accordance with all applicable regulations. The Department of Environmental Health and Safety has established procedures for the disposal of hazardous chemical wastes. Please consult with EH&S for disposal assistance at 255-8200.

Pesticide Spills. There are three types of pesticide spills; incidental release, a release with special circumstance and an emergency response release. For more information regarding spill response and cleanup procedures, please refer to the CALS OEH web site http://oeh.cals.cornell.edu/pestmain.html or contact the Pesticide Program (255-0485, pesticides@cornell.edu). You may also contact Environmental Health & Safety (255-8200) or the Environmental Compliance Office (255-5322).

For additional information on pesticides and pesticide use requirements, please contact the CALS Occupational and Environmental Health Program [pesticides@cornell.edu, 255-0485 or http://oeh.cals.cornell.edu/pestmain.html].