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For Immediate Release Local Media Contact: EPA Contact : U.S. EPA awards grant to Kern Co. UCCE to train agricultural workers on safe handling of pesticides Bakersfield – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded a $50,000 grant to the University of California's Cooperative Extension Service in Bakersfield, California to educate agricultural workers on how to safely handle pesticides. The funds will be used by the Kern County Agricultural Commissioner's office and the UC Cooperative Extension Service to conduct 20 workshops for local private pesticide applicators and eight workshops for farm labor contractors. Workshops will take place during 2005 and 2006, and will be conducted in both English and Spanish to maximize participation. The workshops will include sessions on how to safely handle different types of pesticides, techniques to avoid pesticide drift, how to prevent exposure to pesticides during application, and selecting the appropriate personal protective equipment. Those who attend the farm labor contractor trainings will become certified as trainers who can in turn train their employees on pesticide-related safety practices. Over the past few years, Kern County has had many pesticide exposure incidents. This year 15 field workers were treated for pesticide exposure when chemicals being applied by a helicopter drifted into the field where they were working. In 2002 the county reported 373 suspected illnesses from exposure to pesticides. "Kern County is taking an important step toward reducing the impacts from pesticides not only for the people working in the fields, but also for the community as a whole," said Kathy Taylor, director of the agriculture program for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "Educated pesticide applicators who do their job effectively can significantly reduce the number of pesticide exposure incidents." The health effects from pesticide exposure differ, depending on the type of pesticide. Some, such as the organophosphate pesticides affect the nervous system. Other pesticides may affect the hormone or endocrine system of the body. # # # |
