Beth Rodman will take the helm of the Agricultural Safety
and Health Bureau on Sept. 5, 2017, replacing Bureau Chief
Regina Cullen.
Cullen, who led the bureau for almost 28 years, will retire
Sept. 1, 2017.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with the agricultural
community for these many years. I’ve seen lots of changes
and I really think together we moved farmworker housing
and farm safety forward,” said Cullen. “I’m proud of what
we accomplished together. We are a small, hard-working
group of people, we know North Carolina and work well
with our growers. On-site farm training taught me a lot. I
have utmost respect for the hard-working people who run
their agricultural enterprises, it’s a challenge. I also have
respect for those hard-working people who labor in the
fi elds. Most of us would be unable or unwilling to work
those physically demanding tasks. Beth knows what we do
and how to do it – I am delighted she will take the lead role.”
Beth Rodman previously served as Agricultural Safety
and Health housing inspector in 2008 through 2014, and
is very familiar with procedures and with farmers and their
farming operations.
For the last several years she has worked for the N.C.
Department of Transportation, conducting small or minority
owned business compliance investigations. She holds a degree
from East Carolina University in international business.
“I am really looking forward to coming back to the
Department of Labor, to the Ag Safety Bureau and working
Cherie Berry
Commissioner of Labor
Agricultural Safety
and Health Bureau
Regina Cullen
Bureau Chief
1101 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1101
1-800-NC-LABOR
(1-800-625-2267)
www.nclabor.com
Stay in touch with today’s
workplace issues.
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August 2017 Volume 38
        	
   
      	  

Rodman Named New ASH Bureau Chief
Regina Cullen to Retire Sept. 1
Inside This Edition
New Safety DVDs
Available
ASH District Map
Worker Protection
Standard Update
continued on page 2
“I really think together we moved
farmworker housing and farm safety
forward.”
— Regina Cullen
NCDOL Photo Library
Regina Cullen
NCDOL Photo Library
Beth Rodman
“I am really looking forward to
coming back to the Department of
Labor.”
— Beth Rodman
with my former colleagues,” said Rodman. “I also look forward to seeing the
growers I once worked with, and to using the Spanish language again.”
The bureau inspects migrant housing throughout the state. The bureau also
conducts mid-season investigations, focusing on health and safety issues in
the fi eld. Agricultural accident and fatality investigations are part of this effort.
Migrant housing is currently registered in more than 80 counties. Thus far in
2017, more than 1,800 housing sites have been inspected and more than 1,700
housing sites certifi ed. The bureau has also created safety videos and on-farm
training protocols that are now used throughout the southeast portion of the
United States.
Rodman Named New ASH Bureau Chief, Regina Cullen to Retire
2
continued from page 1
The Agricultural Safety and Health (ASH) Bureau and the North
Carolina State University (NCSU) video team just completed two
bilingual agricultural safety digital video disks (DVDs). The video
sponsor was the Farm Labor Practices Group (FLPG) and funding
was provided by the FLPG and the Tobacco Growers Association of
North Carolina.
The FLPG is a group of key stakeholders including manufacturers,
buyers, growers, government and non-governmental organizations,
whose purpose is to facilitate constructive dialogue about farm
labor practices. The work of the FLPG is coordinated by Keystone
Policy Center (www.keystone.org), an independent non-profi t
organization that facilitates collaborative decision-making in areas
such as agriculture, health, and education. (Contact Brad Sperber at
bsperber@keystone.org with any questions about the FLPG.)
GAP Connections, administrator for the U.S. Tobacco GAP
Program, will use the DVDs as training tools, and will include the
DVDs as part of their training kit resources. The ultimate goal of this
DVD is to provide guidance to farmers and farmworkers on the best
safety practices and safety and health regulations governing their
work activities.
The video is intended for audiences in all tobacco producing states
in the United States with attention to both fl ue-cured and burley
tobacco. Each segment is self-contained, so that one segment can be
viewed without viewing others. These instructional videos focus on
essential facts, and the 10 bilingual (English and Spanish) segments
run from eight to ten minutes each. Topics include tractor safety,
fi eld sanitation, fork lift safety, green tobacco sickness, heat stress
prevention, pesticide information, tobacco baler safety, tobacco
harvester safety, tobacco production, and labor wage and hour and
housing regulations. Each segment has three guided questions that
appear prior to the start of the segment. The questions are repeated at
the conclusion of the segment, and the correct responses are provided
during that time. Because each video is short, they will not cover all
aspects of the topic but will focus on the most critical elements with
resource information provided at the end.
The FLPG and GAP Connections will oversee distributing the
DVDs throughout the tobacco producing states in the U.S. If you are
interested in obtaining the DVDs, you can go to shop.gapconnections.
com and purchase the DVDs online. To purchase online you will
need a member account. Not a member? You can sign-up for a free
account and get access to the store. The account allows you to log
back in and view receipts and purchases as well as take part in any
of our training events. If you prefer to purchase via phone call GAP
Connections’ offi ces at 865-622-4606. Copies are $10 plus tax for
members. Jane Chadwell, executive director for GAP Connections,
explains, “This cost covers the cost of production – the cost of
materials, and the processing and shipping fees. We want it to go out
to as many farms in as many tobacco producing states as possible.
These DVDs promote safe, practical work practices. They need to
be in use.”
Brad Sperber, Keystone Policy Center, indicates that these videos
are available on YouTube as well. “This will provide easy access to those
who prefer to use the internet to obtain information.” This is the link for
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCriIrFd-nB18hTsynFya_yA
Ken Ellzey, the NCSU media specialist who produced most of the
titles on the DVD, commented on his role, “I produce videos for the
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NCSU and typically do
projects that directly connect to our college or NC State Extension.
Regina’s projects connect directly to agriculture and the type of work
Extension does, and Extension was often involved in the projects.
We have produced six DVDs over the years, covering housing,
Gold Star Growers, and various safety topics. It’s been a successful
partnership. “
Francisco Rodriguez, who did the Spanish language reading, and
much of the writing of the Spanish language scripts, explained that
this was a very important effort for him. “I do the inspections. I know
what it’s like, both in the housing and in the fi elds. If we can prevent
one accident, I will be a happy man.”
New Safety DVDs Available
“I do the inspections. I know what it’s
like, both in the housing and in the fi elds.
If we can prevent one accident, I will be
a happy man.”
— Francisco Rodriguez
Caution: Farmer at Work!
Practice safety when operating
farm machinery on public roads.
I really enjoy preoccupancy
inspections, working with the
growers to ensure that the
housing and the farm sites
are safe for everyone. It is a
great opportunity to share
information and to answer
questions.
—Kathy
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One of the most important
parts of my job here in the
western part of the state is to
keep in touch with growers
and to make sure that everyone
is properly registered. It takes
teamwork and cooperation to
improve worker housing.
—Lauren
My job as an agricultural
safety and health offi cer is to
verify that the grower takes
measures to protect himself,
his family, and his employees.
That way he can continue
his wonderful and important
work of producing food for us
here in North Carolina and
beyond. Safety fi rst!
—Francisco
I think it’s important for
growers to register their sites
early, and have them clean
and ready for an inspection at
least 30 days before they need
a housing certifi cate. When I
hear “Well, just walk through
the site and tell me what I
need to fi x!” I get worried.
—Drew
A good night’s sleep means a
more productive work day for
everyone. When it’s hot outside,
cool temperatures inside the
labor camp provide your
workers with the opportunity
to rest completely, and to
lower their body temperature.
—Johana
Want to improve your housing?
A coat of paint will make a
great fi rst impression.
—Alan
By Gwen Minton and Pat Jones,
NC Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Programs
North Carolina growers are concerned about the current changes
involving respirators and pesticide application. Pat Jones and Gwen
Minton share questions and answers with you that may be helpful.
What are the EPA pesticide label requirements for respirators?
EPA adopted certain Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) requirements for respirator use that affect soil fumigation
labels and the 2015 Worker Protection Standard (WPS) revisions.
The goal of the respirator requirements is to ensure that the pesticide
applicator/handler
Is physically capable of wearing a respirator
Receives the intended protection by having the respirator fi t properly
Selects the correct respirator
Knows how to use the respirator correctly
What pesticide label language triggers OSHA respirator requirements?
When label language includes a statement such as “A NIOSH-approved
dust mist fi ltering respirator with MSHA/NIOSH approval
number prefi x TC-21C or a NIOSH-approved respirator with and R, P
or HE fi lter,” then the OSHA requirements apply. These requirements
include: Medical evaluation Annual fi t testing
Annual respirator training
What is the medical evaluation?
The medical evaluation must be conducted to determine whether
the handler is physically able to use a respirator. The evaluation is
conducted by using a medical questionnaire or exam performed by
a physician or other licensed health-care professional (PLHCP). The
medical information may be obtained by evaluating written responses
or by conducting a medical examination. The questionnaire must be
based on OSHA’s Part A of Appendix C to 1910.134. The PLHCP’s
fi nal medical determination must be based on information covered by
the questionnaire.
The medical evaluation is required one time.
However, another evaluation could be needed if:
Most PLHCP’s will only issue medical release for a specifi ed
length of time (1-3 years)
Signs/symptoms of respiratory distress during respirator use
The Worker Protection Standard and Respirator Use: An Update
continued on page 4
        	
   
      	  

Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau
Recommendation from the PLHCP
Recommendation from the fi t-test
Workplace changes
Applicator’s medical situation changes
Documentation
The PLHCP will provide a medical release to allow the applicator/
handler to wear a respirator.
Recordkeeping
Maintain a copy of the written medical release for at least 2 years.
What is the purpose of a fi t-test and is it required each year?
The purpose of fi t testing is to ensure the respirator that is being
used fi ts the applicator’s/handler’s face correctly. An adequate seal
is required between the user’s face and the respirator to provide the
intended protection. The fi t test is required annually.
Fit testing must follow OSHA protocols.
Qualitative fi t test: This inexpensive, easy-to-perform test relies on
the respirator user’s response to a test agent such as banana oil,
saccharin, or irritant smoke. If the user detects the agent while
wearing the respirator, the facepiece-to face seal is not successful
and the test fails. A user who cannot successfully complete the
test must be tested with another facepiece, make, size or brand.
This method does not require specialized equipment or a trained
person to conduct the test.
Quantitative fi t test: An instrument samples the concentration of a
test agent in the ambient atmosphere and inside the user’s
facepiece. With this information, a quantitative fi t factor can be
calculated that indicates how well the facepiece fi ts the user:
the higher the number the better the fi t. This method is more
accurate than a qualitative test but also more expensive. The
quantitative fi t test requires special equipment, and a trained
person must conduct the test.
Recordkeeping
A written record of the fi t test must be maintained for 2 years.
The elements required:
Name of applicator/handler
Type of fi t test performed
Make, model and size of the respirator tested
Date of the fi t test
Fit test results
Does WPS require respirator training?
The WPS revisions require that handlers be provided with training in
the use of the respirator specifi ed on the pesticide product labeling and
that they demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fi t, usage, or
maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator
How to select cartridges and canisters and know the schedule for
changing
How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations,
including situations in which the respirator malfunctions
How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the
respirator
Respirator maintenance and storage procedures
How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or
prevent the effective use of respirators.
Recordkeeping
A written record of the respirator training must be maintained for
2 years and should contain:
Name and signature of handler trained
Date of training
Trainer’s name
Training topics
Is an emergency eye fl ush station required at all decontamination sites?
No, emergency eye fl ushing supplies must be provided at any site
where handlers are mixing or loading a pesticide that requires protective
eyewear or are mixing or loading any pesticide using a closed system
operating under pressure. The supplies that must be available are:
A system capable of delivering gently running water at a rate of at
least 0.4 gallons per minute for at least 15 minutes
At least 6 gallons of water in containers suitable for providing
gently running water for eye fl ushing for 15 minutes. The
container(s) must be able to dispense a gentle steady fl ow of water.
Additionally, when applying a pesticide that requires protective
eyewear, 1 pint of water must be immediately available to each handler/
applicator in a portable container.
For additional information or questions
concerning respirator requirements please contact:
The NC Department of Agriculture Pesticide Section at (919) 733-3556 or
Robin Tutor with the NC Agromedicine Institute at (252) 744-1008.
The Worker Protection Standard and Respirator Use
Printed 8/17
1,200 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $250, or $.20 per copy.
All photographs, graphics and illustrations are property of the N.C. Department of Labor or are used by permission/license of their respective copyright holders.
Learn more about our Gold Star Grower recognition program!
www.nclabor.com
Follow NCDOL on:
continued from page 3