1 surveillance of personal protective equipment practices in agriculture kimberly faulkner, phd, mph...

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Surveillance of Personal Protective Equipment Practices

in Agriculture

Kimberly Faulkner, PhD, MPH

for NIOSH and the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory

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Protecting U.S. farm crop workers

Personal Protective Equipment

Assess practices and barriers to best practices over time

Improve practices to reduce illness

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Personal protective equipmentA critical last line of defense

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Personal protective equipment practicesIt’s only effective when selected and used correctly

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Objectives

Study planning

Assessment of existing knowledge and methods

Development and administration of a standard questionnaire/focus groups

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Study Planning

Study scope: Pesticide handlers, practices and barriers

Existing data sources

FLYER

PPE regulations

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Study planning: Overview

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Study Planning: Data sources

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Study Planning: FLYER

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Study Planning: PPE regulations

EPA WPS:

40 CFR 170.170.7, 170.240(c), 170.232 (a)(2), 170.230.b.1

Certification of Pesticide Applicators: 40 CFR 171

Labeling Requirements for Pesticides: 40CFR 156

OSHA Standard for Agriculture: 29 CFR 1928

OSHA PPE standards: 29CFR 1910.132-1910.136, and 1910.138

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Study Planning: Summary

Examine existing knowledge and do pre-assessment work on barriers

Identify partners and pool resources

Develop and administer questionnaire/focus groups

Develop and administer interventions

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Objectives

Study planning

Assessment of existing knowledge and methods

Development and administration of a standard questionnaire

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Assessing existing knowledge

National Agricultural Workers Study (NAWS)

NIOSH Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risk (SENSOR)

Oregon OSHA Pesticide Emphasis Program

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Assessing existing knowledge: NAWS

National sample, 1,230 interviews addressing PPE (1999-2001); 99% complete

PPE appropriateness not known

Using PPE correctly not known

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Assessing existing knowledge: SENSOR

Pesticide illnesses reported in 12 states

Only OR, WA, MI collected PPE data on at least 79% of cases (2001-05), N=178

PPE appropriateness not known

Using PPE correctly not known

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Assessing existing knowledge: OR OSHA

Programmed inspection data

Oregon PPE regulations (EPA WPS & OSHA respiratory protection standard adopted in 2007)

Percent of establishments in violation of PPE regulations

Most common regulations violated

Doesn’t tell us about individual practices or barriers

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Assessing existing knowledge: OR OSHA/Methods

348 programmed first inspections (of 375) from 2000 to 2007

Applicable regulations: 1910.132-138, 170.240

3 industries = 95% of inspections

fruit and tree nut farming

greenhouse/nursery/floriculture production,

other crop farming

1-10 employees = 55% of inspections

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Assessing existing knowledge: OR OSHA/Results (2000-07)

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Assessing existing knowledge: OR OSHA/Results (2000-07)

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Assessing existing knowledge: OR OSHA/Results (2000-07)

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Assessing existing knowledge: OR OSHA/Summary

PPE violations are common and frequent, many are serious

Appropriateness of PPE for the establishment

Proper use of PPE for the establishment

• Individual PPE practices and barriers are not known

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Objectives

Study planning

Assessment of existing knowledge and methods

Development and administration of a standard questionnaire/focus groups

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Develop and administer standard

Questionnaires and focus groups (as appropriate)

Appropriate /inappropriate PPE

Appropriate use/misuse of PPE

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Develop and administer standard

Appropriate/inappropriate PPE

EPA registration number for pesticides

or manufacturers specific name of pesticide

Relevant environmental controls

Duration of exposure

Type(s) and material(s) of PPE worn when mixing, loading or applying pesticides

If respirator used: NIOSH certification number

If applying pesticides: methods of application

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Develop and administer standard

Proper use/misuse of PPE

proper size/fit

maintenance

inspection

storage

discarding PPE as required

clean area to put on and remove PPE

decontamination

For respirator users: lack of fit testing, medical evaluation, user-seal check, and proper filter replacement

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Develop and administer standard

PPE concerns and barriers

For each type of PPE and handler group: What are the concerns, barriers and solutions?

Handler groups

commercial certified applicator

private certified applicator (Hispanic and Non-hispanic)

non-certified/WPS handler (Hispanic and Non-hispanic)

Anabaptist/Amish communities

Flyers: 17 emails and 4 phone calls

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Develop and administer standard: Surveillance

2012, 2013, …

2012, 2013, …

2012, 2013, …

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Develop and administer standard

Partnerships

EPA/OR OSHA

State Cooperative Extension services

State Offices of Rural Health

State Departments of Health/Agriculture

PNASH

Farmworker Association of Florida

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Develop and administer standard: Next steps (Apr. 2010-Apr. 2011)

Expand/strengthen partnerships

Brainstorm with partners

Identify PPE concerns and barriers

Develop gold standard (questionnaire/focus groups)

Identify opportunities and challenges

Identifying and secure resources

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Develop and administer standard: Summary

We need your help

How to access handlers and employers?

What are critical elements needed to assess practices?

What are the tools/methods to best be able to assess practices?

The benefit to you…

Results will inform educational and training outreach

Improved compliance and possibly reduced illnesses

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Contact me

Kimberly Faulkner, PhD, MPH

Epidemiologist/Statistician

NIOSH/National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory

P.O. Box 18070

Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0070

Tele: 412-386-6609

Email: KFaulkner@cdc.gov