Occupational Health and Safety
All certified farms have an occupational health and safety program to reduce or prevent the risk of accidents in the workplace.
All workers receive training on how to do their work safely, especially regarding the application of agrochemicals.
Certified farms provide the necessary equipment to protect workers and guarantee that the tools, infrastructure, machinery and all equipment used on the farms is in good condition and does not pose a danger to human health or the environment.
Certified farms identify potential emergencies and are prepared with plans and equipment to respond to any event or incident, as well as to minimize the possible impacts on workers and the environment.
Having strict safety standards in the mills, workshops, storage areas and for the use of machinery and ensuring that all workers are informed of these standards, and have the proper safety equipment and the appropriate training.
Identifying potential emergencies and preparing plans and equipment to respond to any event or incident, as well as to minimize the possible impacts on workers, local communities, and the environment.
All workers that apply, handle, transport or come into contact with agrochemicals or other chemical substances must be trained in at least the following subjects:
General occupational health.
Formulations, names, and the biocide action or toxicity in the case of pesticides, of the substances used.
Interpretation of the pesticide labels and of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the substances used.
Correct use of personal protective clothing and equipment.
Preventative measures and measures for reducing damage to health and the environment caused by chemical substances: equipment, techniques, signage, medical examinations, etc.
Emergency procedures, first aid and medical attention for cases involving poisoning or undue contact with chemical substances.
Techniques for handling chemical substances and for the correct application of agrochemicals.
Secure handling and transportation of agrochemicals for drivers.
Training to ensuring that all workers receive training on how to do their job safely, and have the proper equipment to do so. (Date, subject, and attendees)
Personnel who apply or handle agrochemicals .
These workers must not suffer from chronic diseases, hepatitis or renal diseases, or respiratory diseases nor have been declared mentally challenged.
Only males between the ages of 18 and 60 are permitted to apply agrochemicals.
On farms where organophosphates and carbamates are applied, cholinesterase examinations must be carried out every six months or as stipulated by law.
Women of child bearing age may not apply pesticides.
All necessary PPE will be supplied by the management.
The corridors and storage areas on the floor of the storage facilities must be well marked. There must be a free space of at least 30 centimeters between the wall and the stored materials.
The storage facilities must have shelving and platforms for storing equipment made from non-absorbent materials for storing liquid products
There must be enough natural light to allow visibility during the day in the absence of electricity.
There must be enough natural ventilation to prevent the accumulation of odors and vapors.
The emergency exits must be clearly marked and unobstructed.
In the box and packaging assembly areas, the continuous noise level must not exceed 85 decibels.
The box and packaging assembly areas must have at least two meters of free space for each assigned worker.
Those areas used for the storage and distribution of agrochemicals or flammable and toxic substances must be designed, constructed and equipped to reduce the risk of accidents and negative impacts on human health and the environment. hat all conditions comply with applicable laws or with the following parameters, whichever are stricter:
The floors and walls must be smooth and waterproof.
In the agrochemical storage facilities, the floors must have a one percent slope and there must be a retention wall in the different entrances to prevent spilled liquids from escaping the storage area.
Fuel tanks and containers for flammable substances must be kept in enclosed areas with good ventilation, a retention wall and a smooth, waterproof floor to retain any spills. The walls height must be calculated to retain 1.2 times the volume of the stored containers.
Fuel tank enclosures must have a system for removing spills and accumulated water from rain or washing. All drains in the storage areas must be connected to a collection and deactivation system and have an inspection box.
Underground fuel tanks must be eliminated.
Storage areas must have a loading area with collection system for spills.
The minimum height of agrochemical storage facilities must be three meters from the floor to the storage facility roof or ceiling.
There must be enough natural light and the openings for permanent ventilation ¡V windows, extractors and other permanent openings that allow air to circulate freely ¡V must be a minimum of 20% of the total floor area.
The corridors and storage areas on the floor of the storage facilities must be clearly marked. There must be a free space of at least 30 centimeters between the wall and the stored materials.
The farm must store agrochemicals in a manner that minimizes potential negative impacts on human health and on the environment. The farm must store only the amount of agrochemicals necessary to meet short-term needs.
These products must be separated according to their biocide, toxicity and chemical formula. They must not be stored on the floor nor come within contact with absorbent materials.
A Material Safety Data Sheet must be kept in the storage facility for each chemical product stored. All agrochemical containers must be washed three times before being stored for disposal or return to supplier. \
The farm must demonstrate that the locations of agrochemical and fuel storage areas comply with applicable laws.
Sixty meters from buildings used by people on a daily basis (housing, health centers, schools, recreation areas, offices, etc.).
One hundred meters from public roads.
One hundred and twenty meters from rivers, streams and lakes.
Two hundred meters from water wells or springs used for human consumption.
For agrochemical storage facilities, at least 50 meters from fuel storage tanks.
The farm must take permanent measures to reduce the risk of accidents or spills of agrochemicals during their transportation to and within the farm.
All workers that come into contact with agrochemicals, including those who clean or wash clothes or equipment that has been exposed to agrochemicals, must use personal protection equipment.
The Company has constructed “healthy house” where workers can shower after apply agrochemicals, and provided separate, facility for mixing agrochemicals, and new, best-available PPE. The foreman in the field are able to read the product label and the safety and first-aid requirements.
Workers are prohibited from taking the PPEs home after work.
Conduct regular health checks for employees who come into contact with chemicals
The farm must have the necessary safety measures for the protection of workers applying agrochemicals in the field.
The farm must have showers and changing rooms for all persons that apply or come in contact with agrochemicals. There must be policies and procedures that require that all workers that apply agrochemicals shower and change their clothes immediately after finishing the application and before leaving the farm at the end of the workday.
Clothes worn while applying agrochemicals must never be washed in the workers homes. There must be a designated area near the changing rooms for washing application clothing. Handling and safety procedures must be established for transferring or transporting contaminated clothing from the shower area to the laundry room
The farm must have accessible the necessary equipment for preventing and responding to the different types of emergencies identified in the emergency response plan. There must be first aid equipment in the farms permanent installations and first aid kits available to field workers. There must be a shower, eye-wash facilities and a lavatory or sink in the chemical storage areas and in the areas where agrochemicals are mixed and distributed.
Farms must implement documented procedures for protecting workers in the event of an extreme weather event. When harvesting at night, farms must provide constant lighting in the entire radius of harvest worker activities.
