Washington State University
Environmental Health & Safety EH&S Factsheets

Restricted Entry after Pesticide Applications:

The First 30 Days in Greenhouses

FAQREI-Greenhouse

The purpose of this pamphlet is to provide guidelines when entering greenhouse areas treated with pesticides immediately after an application; during a restricted entry interval (REI); for 30 days following an application without an REI; and for 30 days after an REI has expired. This information is applicable to all agricultural workers, crop advisors, and pesticide handlers.

Worker Entry into a Greenhouse:

  • If the pesticide application is a fumigant:
     
    Worker entry is prohibited:

    • During application and immediately after within the entire greenhouse and adjacent structures that cannot be sealed off from the treated area.

     
    Worker entry is allowed:

    • When inhalation exposure levels are equal to or less than those listed in the pesticide label for early entry or, in the absence of a label specific inhalation requirement one of the following ventilation requirements are met:
      • 10 air exchanges are completed.
      • 2 hours of ventilation with fans or other mechanical ventilation.
      • 11 hours of no ventilation followed by 1 hour of mechanical ventilation.
      • 11 hours of no ventilation followed by 2 hours of passive ventilation.
      • 24 hours of no ventilation.
  • If the pesticide application is a smoke, mist, fog, aerosol, or “other type of application” that requires label specified respiratory protection and is not a fumigant:
     
    Worker entry is prohibited:

    • During application and immediately after within the entire enclosed area.

    Worker entry is restricted:

    • During the period after ventilation requirements have been met and until the end of the REI in the entire enclosed area.
    • If it is an “other type of application,” then entry is restricted in the treated area only.
  • If the pesticide application is applied from a height greater than 12” from the planting medium; or as a fine spray; or using a spray pressure greater than 40 psi and is not an application described above:
     
    Worker entry is prohibited:

    • During the application within the treated area plus a 25 foot radius.

    Worker entry is restricted:

    • During the period after ventilation requirements have been met and until the end of the label specified REI within the treated area only.
  • If the application is anything other than described above:
     

    • Worker entry is prohibited during the application and restricted during the period after ventilation requirements have been met and until the end of the REI within the treated area only.

Worker Entry During the Period 30 Days After an REI Has Expired, or 30 Days After an Application Without an REI, Is Allowed When:

  • Standard protective clothing is worn.
  • Proper decontamination supplies are available.
  • WPS and HCS training, and posted pesticide application information is provided prior to entry.
  • Transportation to medical facilities is readily available.
  • Other WPS worker requirements are met.

Restricted Worker Entry During an REI Is Allowed:

For Short-Term Activities:

  • Short-term activities include operating, moving, or repairing watering equipment or performing crop advisor tasks. Activities not allowed include hand labor and tasks that require substantial contact with surfaces directly or indirectly treated with pesticides.
  • Entry cannot occur until ventilation requirements have been met or inhalation exposure levels are below those listed on the pesticide label.
  • Entry can be for no more than 1 hour every 24 hours.
  • PPE must be worn as specified for early entry on the pesticide label and as required by WAC 296-307-12020 (3).
  • Proper decontamination supplies must be available. Requirements are listed in the EH&S factsheet Preparedness and Planning.
  • Appropriate measures are to be taken to prevent heat-related illnesses. Please see the EH&S factsheet Heat-Related Illnesses.
  • Worker Protection Standard (WPS) training, Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) training, and posted pesticide information must be provided prior to entry into treated areas.
  • Transportation to a nearby medical facility must be readily available should a pesticide-related poisoning or injury occur.

For Agricultural Emergency Conditions:

  • An agricultural emergency is determined by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and does not include day-to-day situations. Agricultural emergencies are defined in the WAC 296-307-12020 (4).
  • Entry cannot occur until 4 hours after pesticide application is completed, or after the minimum re-entry interval allowed by the label.
  • Entry is allowed to perform any task that will mitigate the emergency. Tasks can include hand labor tasks and can exceed 1 hour in a 24 hour period.
  • All other requirements listed for short term activities must be followed as well.
  • A record must be completed within 24 hours of early entry that includes: the date; start and end time of emergency period; reason for emergency; location; pesticide name, EPA #, and REI; name of early entry individual, the date, time of entry and exit; and the estimated potential economic loss if early entry did not occur.
  • Records must be maintained for 7 years and made available upon request.

For Activities with No Contact:

  • Conditions of “no contact” are no contact with anything treated with a pesticide including but not limited to: soil, water, plant surfaces, or air (inhalation exposure levels must be below those listed on the pesticide label for early entry).
  • Standard protective clothing must be worn for entry.
  • WPS and HCS training, and posted pesticide application information must be provided prior to entry.

For Crop Advisors and the Employees they Supervise:

For Pesticide Handlers:

  • Entry is allowed any time and for any activity if all pesticide label application handler requirements are met.

Warning Signs and Application Information for Pesticide Treated Areas:

  • Check the pesticide application postings to know where treated areas are, what pesticides have been applied, what REI is in effect, and other entry requirements such as PPE needed.
  • Entry warning signs can be found at points of access, or any other place with high visibility.
  • Application information will be in the location specified for the posting of pesticide safety information. This information will be posted for 30 days after the pesticide REI is over or for 30 days after the application if the pesticide has no REI.
  • The following information will be listed regarding the pesticide application: the location and description of the treated area; the product name; EPA registration number; active ingredient(s) of the pesticide; the time and date of the pesticide application; and the REI for the pesticide.

Definitions:

  • “Worker” refers to any employee performing activities related to the production of agricultural plants, and is not a pesticide applicator or crop advisor.
  • “Restricted Entry Interval” (REI) means the period after the end of a pesticide application during which entry into the treated area is restricted as specified on the pesticide label.
  • “Pesticide” refers to any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, control, repel, or mitigate any insect, rodent, snail, slug, fungus, weed, or plant virus. These include, but are not limited to, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, adjuvants, thinners, plant regulators, and defoliants.
  • “Hand Labor” is agricultural activity performed by hand or hand tools and can include, but not limited to: harvesting, de-tasseling, thinning, weeding, topping, planting, pruning, disbudding, roguing, and packing produce in the field.
  • “Standard Protective Clothing” protects the body from pesticide residues and includes: long-sleeved shirt; long pants; gloves; hat or scarf; socks; and shoes.

Getting Assistance

Contact EH&S if you have any questions about restricted entry after pesticide application during the first 30 days in greenhouses.

Initial Application Non-restricted activity for pesticides without an REI  
4 hour
REI
24 hour
REI
48 hour
REI
72 hour
REI
3 day
REI
7 day
REI
30 days post applications
or REI
Restricted activity for pesticides with a
Restricted Entry Interval (REI)