Farm Safety Training and Worker Protection Standards

New federal Worker Protection Standards took effect April 1, 1994 which require safety training for ALL supervisors, staff, and employees (including temporary summer employees) who work on the farm. In some areas Oregon OSHA standards are more stringent than the new federal standard. Contact the farm staff for information regarding worker training BEFORE you or your employees come to the farm expecting to go to work. Be aware that under the new rules supervisors (project leaders, RA's, etc.) are legally responsible for the training and knowledge of their workers and that stiff CIVIL and CRIMINAL penalties can be applied.

Pesticide Application

The staff at Hyslop Farm are certified, licensed, and well equipped to handle application of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides needed as part of normal farming operations. Over the last several years a number of questions have arisen regarding pesticide application by research project employees on Hyslop Farm. The policy at Hyslop Farm is simple: all pesticide application must be done in accordance with state and federal law. Our policies concerning some of the most commonly asked questions are listed below.

1. Anyone handling restricted-use pesticides in Oregon must be certified and licensed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture or be working under the direct supervision of a certified and licensed individual. Direct supervision means that the certified applicator must show the noncertified person how to apply the pesticide and be readily accessible to give directions or advice.
2. Public employees who apply general-use pesticides with hand-powered equipment are exempt from licensing requirements.
3. Anyone applying pesticides using power equipment must be certified and licensed.
4. A Demonstration and Research endorsement is required for persons who apply a pesticide as part of a research project where the pesticide has no EPA registration for that use.