Who is responsible for ensuring that the ground crew wears appropriate personal protective equipment under the Worker Protection Standard?

The responsibility for ensuring that the ground crew wears appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) under the Worker Protection Standard primarily falls on the aerial business owners/operators. This standard is in place to protect agricultural workers from exposure to pesticides. The aerial business owners and operators are responsible for implementing safety protocols, including the provision and enforcement of the use of PPE for all employees working in environments where they may be exposed to pesticide residues. This duty includes informing the crew of the risks involved and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

The other parties involved, while having their own responsibilities concerning pesticide safety, do not have the same level of direct oversight and accountability for enforcing PPE compliance as the business owners/operators do. For example, while aerial applicators may operate the equipment or conduct the application, the supervision and on-ground safety measures are the direct concern of the business leadership.