The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance
Presents 2020 Program Innovation Award
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Contact:
Ples Spradley, TPSA Awards Chair
Phone: 501-671-2234
E-mail: pspradley@uaex.edu
St. Louis, MO: The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA) held its annual conference in San Antonio, Texas in February and presented the Program Innovation Award to Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDAG) for their Technical Service and Education Program (TSEP). Ofelio Borges, Director, Washington State Department of Agriculture Pesticide Management Division accepted the award on behalf of the team and serves as the TSEP Manager. In addition to Borges, the team includes: Flor Servin, Jaime Ramon, Lorena Lopez, Manuel Ornelas, Bradley Farrar, Jeff Robinson, Joe Hoffman, and Kimberly Diaz. https://agr.wa.gov/services/education-and-training/pesticide-technical-assistance-and-education
WSDA Pesticide Management Division began its Technical Service and Education Program (TSEP), previously known as the “Farmworker Education Program” back in 1998 after the Worker Protection Standard was implemented and assessments in Washington State revealed that both agricultural employers and employees lacked awareness of personal protective equipment requirements.
The Technical Service and Education Program now offers the following types of courses:
- Spanish Pre-license Private Applicator Classes – up to 20 hours
- WPS Train-the-Trainer Spanish and English – 2-day course
- WPS Train-the-Trainer Refresher – 4-hour course
- Spanish hands-on Pesticide Handler Training – 8-hour course
- Hands-on Respirator Fit Test -Train-the-Trainer – 6-hour course
- Spray Application Equipment Best Management Practices Workshop (and videos) – 8- hour course
The TSEP also manages WSDA’s Waste Pesticide Identification and Disposal Program in cooperation with local agencies. The Program collects unusable agricultural and commercial grade pesticides from residents, farmers, small businesses and public agencies free of charge. To learn more, check out this link: https://agr.wa.gov/services/education-and-training/pesticide-technical-assistance-and-education
The entire agriculture industry has tremendously benefited from the program by learning about pesticides, protection and exposures by having a safer and healthier workplace. TSEP regularly partners with industry by offering training for the agricultural community. Currently, Washington State has one of the most robust pesticide safety training in the nation.
The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA), founded in 2000, is an organization of federal, state and local governmental agencies, educational and research institutions, public organizations, private corporations and individuals that are actively involved in different aspects of pesticide stewardship. The goals of TPSA are to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and longevity of various pesticide stewardship efforts.
Please go to the TPSA web site for more information. The 2021 Pesticide Stewardship Conference is scheduled for February 2-4 in Reno, Nevada.
Photographs are available from the TPSA office upon request.
