The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently took action against two Nevada companies for violations of federal pesticide worker safety laws, which the Nevada Department of Agriculture discovered during June 2015 inspections.
Moana Nursery, in Reno, did not provide its workers with pesticide safety training, did not meet information display requirements for a recent pesticide application and did not adequately display emergency medical information. Similarly, Genoa Trees and Landscape Materials, in Minden, did not provide adequate safety training and did not display information on pesticide applications. These violations meant that the companies were not in compliance with the Worker Protection Standard in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
“Notifying workers about pesticide applications and medical information is essential to protecting their health, and the health of their families,” Kathleen Johnson, EPA’s Enforcement Division Director for the Pacific Southwest, said. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with our state partners in this important public health action.”
Federal regulations on pesticides are designed to protect workers, and were recently strengthened so that, beginning in January 2017, workers will have additional protections in place.
Moana Nursery will pay a civil penalty of $2,640, while Genoa Trees and Landscape Materials received a warning.
Alerts Sign-up