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COVID-19 & RESPIRATORS

Due to the COVID – 19/Coronavirus pandemic Respirators will likely be in short supply, especially early in the next several months. EPA has indicated that label PPE requirements will remain as the legal requirement for pesticide applicators. Always follow the pesticide label instructions.

An infographic has been developed to help applicators determine if their needs for respiratory protection and regulatory compliance are being met. If you answer YES to a question, follow the green arrow; if you answer NO to a question, follow the red arrow.

Respirator Infographic - Decision Making Tree SPANISH - Respirator Infographic - Decision Making Tree

RESPIRATORS

A respirator is a personal protective device that is worn on the face, covers at least the nose and mouth, and is used to reduce the wearer’s risk of inhaling hazardous airborne particles (including dust particles and infectious agents), and/or gases or vapors. These are often required apparatus for those who mix and load or apply pesticides. EPA requires that pesticide manufacturers determine and specify respiratory protection according to the anticipated hazards and risk of inhalation. Manufacturers provide requirements for respiratory protection on the pesticide label that are product- and task-specific. The pesticide label is a legal document, and states whether you must use a respirator and, if so, which type. Read and follow the product label for respirator requirements since specific pesticides may have different formulations and use directions.

View educational publications in the NPSEC online store.

  • Rutgers’ Respiratory Protection for Occupational Users of Pesticides
  • PERC Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Respiratory Protection Guide
Educational Publications

RESPIRATOR LINKS

CDC Center for Disease Control

  • Counterfeit Respirators: How to spot counterfeit respirators that ARE NOT NIOSH approved.

Agri Safe

  • Respirator protection during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Agriculture respirator section guide
  • Which respirator is right for the farm work you do?

EPA Memorandum

  • June 1, 2020 Statement Regarding Respiratory Protection Shortages

Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Respirator Resources

  • Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Respirator Resources
  • Different Types of Respirators
  • What Respirator Do I Need?
  • Medical Clearance
  • Fit Check

NIOSH Respirator Information

  • Counterfeit Respirators / Misrepresentation of NIOSH-Approval
  • Understanding The Differences
  • Respirator Filtering Classes
  • What Are Air Purifying Respirators
  • Key Factors For Respirator To Be Effective
  • Important Steps For Using NIOSH N95 Filtering Face Pieces
  • Hierarchy of Controls
  • UMASH Respirator Q & A Toolkit

California Department of Pesticide Regulation Information

  • Acceptable alternatives for PPE
  • Acceptable alternatives for N95

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

  • Tips For Agriculture Pesticide Applicators: Operating Safely During COVID-19

Searching For Alternatives Pesticides That Do Not Require Respiratory Protection

CDMS Label Database
Primairly agricultural crops.
Advance search allow pest specific search to narrow the search of products.

Greenbook
Primairly agricultural production chemicals, over 10,000 products listed.
Using the search tool, type “pesticides that do not require respirator” and it narrows the search of products.

Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
Organic Pesticides only.
Includes pesticides for crops, livestock, and processing and handling products.

USDA Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Database
Agticultural crops searchable by common pests by crop, and a variety of pest management options.

Links

  • WPS
  • C&T Rule
  • Pollinator Health
  • PPE
    • Respirators
  • Application Equipment
    • Sprayers
  • Product Specific
    • Paraquat
    • Dicamba
    • Glyphosate
    • Neonictinoids
    • Sulfuryl Fluoride
NPSEC Store
Adobe Stock

Recent News

  • farmPesticide Program Update: EPA Posts Draft Biological Opinion for Carbaryl and Methomyl for Public CommentMarch 19, 2023 - 10:27 pm
  • EPA Announces Accelerated Action on Four Organophosphate Pesticides Based on Updated Exposure AssessmentsMarch 19, 2023 - 10:22 pm

Contact NPSEC

National Pesticide Safety Education Center
PO Box 1391
Okemos, MI 48805, USA

(517)202-3019

Recent News

  • farmPesticide Program Update: EPA Posts Draft Biological Opinion for Carbaryl and Methomyl for Public CommentMarch 19, 2023 - 10:27 pm
  • EPA Announces Accelerated Action on Four Organophosphate Pesticides Based on Updated Exposure AssessmentsMarch 19, 2023 - 10:22 pm
  • farmEPA Finalizes Updates to List of Pests of Significant Health ImportanceMarch 5, 2023 - 11:14 am
  • farmEPA Implements Protections for Endangered Fish Species from Four PesticidesFebruary 6, 2023 - 11:05 am
  • EPA Adjusts Annual Pesticide Registration Maintenance Fee to Meet Statutory RequirementsJanuary 30, 2023 - 11:36 am

National Pesticide Safety Education Center

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