What is the purpose of the Worker Protection Standard?

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is primarily designed to ensure the safety and health of agricultural workers who are involved in the cultivation and harvest of crops treated with pesticides. It sets forth specific requirements that employers must follow to minimize the risk of pesticide exposure to workers and other individuals in agricultural settings.

This includes providing training for workers on safe pesticide handling, notifying them of pesticide applications, and making personal protective equipment available to them. The main goal is to reduce incidents of pesticide-related illnesses and injuries among agricultural workers, thereby promoting a safer working environment.

The other options do not align with the fundamental purpose of the WPS. Regulating pesticide prices or limiting pesticide usage involves broader economic or regulatory policies, while establishing application schedules addresses timing rather than worker safety.