Farm Worker Exposure to Pesticides

1 Farm Worker Exposure to Pesticides Testimony before the Washington State Board of Health June 13, 2001 Daniel G. Ford, Advocacy Coordinator Columbia Legal Services1 101 Yesler Way, Suite 600 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 464-1122 The U. S. Bureau of Labor... More

1 Farm Worker Exposure to Pesticides Testimony before the Washington State Board of Health June 13, 2001 Daniel G. Ford, Advocacy Coordinator Columbia Legal Services1 101 Yesler Way, Suite 600 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 464-1122 The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that agricultural workers suffer from the highest rate of chemically related illness of any occupational group. 2 Pesticides can injure field workers through direct spray, drift, or the residue left by pesticides. Workers who mix, load, and apply pesticides suffer illnesses from spills, splashes, or inadequate protective equipment. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that nationally farm workers suffer at least tens of thousands, and as many as 300,000, acute illnesses each year as a result of pesticide exposure. 3 Washington State workers compensation data for the period of 1987-1990 showed that the percentage of workplace illnesses from systemic poisoning was 3. 2 times higher for farm wo Less