N.J. Admin. Code § 7:30-12.21

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:30-12.21 - Handler decontamination

(a) The handler employer shall provide decontamination and eyeflushing supplies in accordance with this section for any handler that is performing any handler activity or removing personal protective equipment at the place for changing required pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:30-12.20(f)8.

(b) The handler employer shall provide handlers with at least three gallons of water per handler at the beginning of each handler's work period for routine washing and potential emergency decontamination. At all times when the water is required to be available to handlers, the handler employer shall ensure that it is of a quality and temperature that will not cause illness or injury when it contacts the skin or eyes or if it is swallowed.

1. If a water source is to be used for mixing pesticides, it shall not be used for decontamination or eyeflushing, unless equipped with properly functioning valves or other mechanisms that prevent contamination of the water with pesticides, such as anti-backflow siphons, one-way or check valves, or an air gap sufficient to prevent contamination.

2. The handler employer shall provide soap and single-use towels for drying at each decontamination site in quantities sufficient to meet handlers' needs. Hand-sanitizing gels and liquids, or wet towelettes do not meet the requirements for soap. Wet towelettes do not meet the requirement for single use towels.

3. The handler employer shall provide one clean change of clothing, such as coveralls, at each decontamination site for use in an emergency.

(c) The decontamination supplies shall be located together and reasonably accessible to each handler during the handler activity and not more than one-quarter mile from each handler during the handling activity; or at the site of a required toilet, whichever is closer.

1. Decontamination supplies shall be provided at any mixing site.

2. The decontamination supplies for a pilot who is applying pesticides aerially shall be in the aircraft or at the aircraft's loading site.

3. When handling activities are performed more than one-quarter mile from the nearest place of vehicular access:

i. The soap, single-use towels, and water may be at the nearest place of vehicular access outside the treated area.

4. The decontamination supplies shall not be in an area being treated with pesticides or in an area that is under a restricted-entry interval, unless the soap, single use towels, water and clean change of clothing are protected from pesticide contamination in enclosed containers.

(d) Whenever a handler is mixing or loading a pesticide that has labeling requiring protective eyewear for handlers, or is mixing or loading any pesticide using a closed system operating under pressure, the handler employer shall provide at each mixing/loading site immediately available to the handler, at least one system that is capable of delivering gently running water at a rate of least 0.4 gallons per minute for at least 15 minutes, or at least six gallons of water in containers suitable for providing a gentle eye-flush for about 15 minutes.

(e) Whenever a handler is applying a pesticide that has labeling requiring protective eyewear for handlers, the handler employer shall provide at least one pint of water per handler in portable containers that are immediately available to each handler.

(f) At the end of any exposure period, the handler employer shall provide, at the site where handlers remove PPE, soap, clean towels, and a sufficient amount of water so that the workers may wash thoroughly.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:30-12.21

Amended by 52 N.J.R. 756(a), effective 4/6/2020