Pesticide Stewardship
Good pesticide stewardship is crucial to ensure the safety of agricultural workers, non-target organisms, and the public more broadly. When handled without care, pesticides may cause serious harm, and considerations must be made regarding where applications are made, how pesticides are stored and disposed of, and the workplace standards in place to protect workers.
Georgia’s Critical Habitats
Georgia is home to dozens of federally threatened and endangered species. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates pesticides nationally to protect endangered species, assigning use limitations to many pesticides in order to protect designated critical habitats. It is your responsibility as an applicator to check the EPA’s Endangered Species Protection bulletins before purchasing and applying pesticides.
Pesticide Storage and Disposal
Storage
Pesticide storage areas should be:
- Dry
- Locked
- Fire-resistant
- Well ventilated
- Protected from direct sunlight
- Insulated against extreme temperatures
- At least 100 feet from wells or waterways
Access to pesticide storage areas should be limited to those trained to handle pesticides. Always keep pesticides out of reach of children, animals, and untrained adults.
Pesticide containers should be frequently checked for leaks or breakage. If a container is damaged, transfer contents into an unmarred replacement container with the label attached. Always store pesticides in their original containers with labels intact, and never place pesticides in a food or beverage storage container. Do not store pesticides with food, animal supplies, or seed.
Disposal
The best method to dispose of unused pesticides is simply to use them according to label directions. Follow labelled instructions for disposal or contact your local Extension office for additional disposal information.
Empty pesticide containers that have been triple-rinsed may be brought to several locations throughout Georgia to be recycled, free of charge through the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Waste Disposal & Container Recycling program. For questions about the disposal of larger quantities of pesticides, contact the GDA at (404) 656-4958.
Worker Protection Standards
2024 Revised Worker Protection Standards (WPS)
Those who employ agricultural workers or pesticide handlers should understand their responsibilities under the EPA’s Worker Protection Standards. A free, digital copy of this resource is available for download in English and Spanish from the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative: How to Comply with the 2024 Revised WPS.
The Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) offers additional multimedia materials for training agricultural workers and handlers, including:
- What Type of Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Training Must you Provide? (PDF)
- WPS Checklists for Employers (PDF)
- Quick Reference Guide to the Revised WPS in English (PDF)
- Quick Reference Guide to the Revised WPS in Spanish (PDF)
- Access more WPS materials on PERC’s full library
Respirator Resources
Many available pesticides require the use of a respirator. To safely wear a respirator in compliance with the pesticide label and 2015 revised Worker Protection Standards, you must be 1) medically cleared, and 2) respirator fit tested. Please contact your local occupational health clinic about both procedures. Locations offering respirator fit tests in Georgia can be found below. There are also online resources that can offer medical clearance including 3M Online Respirator Medical Evaluation and Respclearance.com.
Copies of the 2017 Worker Protection Standard Respiratory Protection Guide are free and can be downloaded in English and Spanish from PERC:
- 2017 Worker Protection Standard Respiratory Protection Guide (PDF)
- 2017 Worker Protection Standard Respiratory Protection Guide in Spanish (PDF)
The UGA Pesticide Safety Education Program has created an interactive map highlighting sites where local respirator fit testing is offered (click the button below).