cholinesterase monitoring ~ what washington is learning margaret tucker wa state department of...
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Cholinesterase Monitoring ~ What Washington is Learning
Margaret Tucker
WA State Department of Agriculture
What Will Be Covered
Program overviewChE results to dateFindings of workplace investigationsTraining focus
Program overview
Began in 2004
Lawsuit brought by labor advocates
WA Supreme Court required Labor & Industries to institute rulemaking for cholinesterase (ChE) monitoring program
Agricultural employers only
Program overview
Who must comply?
– Growers with employees who handle Category 1 or 2 organophosphate or N-methyl carbamate pesticides
Program overview
What must they do?
– Document hours of handling of covered pesticides
– Offer testing to employees who handle covered pesticides
Program overview
ChE Testing
– Baseline before handling covered pesticides
– Follow-up testing when exposure threshold met
2004 – 50 hours in consecutive 30 days
2005 – 30 hours in consecutive 30 days
Program Overview
If ChE depression > 20%, employer must:– Perform an investigation of:
work practicesclothesrespiratory protectionsanitation
– Keep a record of the investigation
– Record actions taken to correct problems
Program Overview
If > 30% decrease in red blood cell ChE or > 40% decrease in plasma ChE:– Work practice investigation by L&I
– Employee temporarily removed from exposureCovered by medical removal protection
benefitsMay return to handling tasks when ChE
levels within 20% of baseline
Program Overview
With ChE depressions, symptoms are generally reversed when– Exposure is stopped
– ChE levels increase
No pesticide illness cases in WA as a result of ChE depressions
Year
Employees receiving baseline test
Employees receiving follow-up test
Number of periodic or follow-up tests
Employees with depressions > 20%
Employees with depressions >30% RBC ChE or >40% plasma ChE
2004
2,630 580 1048 97(16.7% of those receiving follow-up test)
22 (3.8% of those receiving follow-up test)
119(20.5% of those receiving follow-up test)
2005(as of 7/11/2005)
2,211 577 799 47(8.1% of those receiving follow-up test)
9 (1.6% of those receiving follow-up test)
56 (9.7% of those receiving follow-up test)
Summary of ChE Monitoring Data
Total
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations*
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
27 Employers - all pome fruit growers
About 75% of the farms > 500 acres
About 1/3 had more than 10 handlers
*NOTE: ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS ONGOING
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
ChE-inhibiting pesticides handled by workers with significant ChE depressions– Lorsban– Sevin– Guthion– Carzol
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
Respiratory Protection
No respirator cartridge change out schedule or overuse of cartridges 13
Using half-face respirator 17
Improper fit-tests 3
Wrong prefilters for oil 2
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
General Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Spray glasses not chemical proof 1
Cotton caps (7 wearing sweatshirt hoods also) 9
Wearing bump cap 1
Cotton gloves under nitrile 2
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
Decontamination
PPE decontamination inadequate 11
Application equipment decon inadequate 3
PPE removed & placed on contaminated surface (e.g. tractor) 3
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
Decontamination
Adjust respirator without glove decon. 1
Smoking without washing/decon. 1
Equipment used for other activities w/o decontamination (e.g. tractor used w/o cleaning) 2
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
Handling Activities
Eye flush supplies missing 3
Eyewash supplies missing or not working 4
Drift exposure (spray on face reported) 3
WPS training cited inadequate 4
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
Change of clothes not provided 2
Improper respirator storage 1
No respiratory protection program 1
Improper respirator maintenance 1
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
Preliminary data highlights many factors making simple conclusions difficult
Only evaluating employees with depressions– How do their practices differ from those
without depressions?
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
AREAS OF CONCERN: Wearing absorbent caps and/or half-face
respirators when applying Lorsban/oil tank mix with airblast sprayers
Required PPE not available Improper use of PPE PPE decontamination inadequate or not
performed at necessary times
Preliminary Data from 2005 Research Investigations
AREAS OF CONCERN:
Personal hygiene practices
Equipment decontamination – none or insufficient. Multiple users w/varying practices
Safety standards/best practices not being carried “down the line”
Training Focus
At all levels: Growers Safety officers Foremen and crew bosses Handlers
Coordinated, partnership effort: Industry, WSDA, WSU, DOH, L&I, PNASH
Training Focus
How? Train the Trainer Hands-On Handler Training Spanish/English Recertification Programs
Washington State Horticultural Association Governor’s Ag Safety Day WSDA/WSU sponsored courses
WSU Decontamination Video WSDA focused newsletter to ag employers
Training Focus
Growers & Handlers Emphasize personal, equipment and PPE
decontamination every time Eliminate use of absorbent caps, etc. Convert to full face respirators where
appropriate Follow farm safety policies
Training Focus
Growers, Safety Officers, Foreman Communicate results of L&I investigations Encourage them to:
Create and nurture a safety cultureDevelop, implement and actively enforce
pesticide safety policies Ensure adequate availability, use and
decontamination of protective equipment
More Information
Go to www.Lni.wa.govClick on the Topics Index at the top of the pageFind “Cholinesterase”Click on “Cholinesterase monitoring”
Call 1-800-4BE-SAFE (423-7233) and select “pesticide blood testing”
E-mail: [email protected] – [email protected] – Spanish
Thank You!
Margaret Tucker
WA State Dept. of Agriculture
(360) 902-2015
agr.wa.gov/PestFert/