PDFWAC 296-307-14825
Respond to depressed cholinesterase levels.
The employer must respond to an employee's depressed cholinesterase levels by:
(1) Taking the actions required in Table 1;
AND
(2) Following any additional occupational health recommendations from the LHCP.
Table 1
Required Responses to an Employee's
Depressed Cholinesterase Levels
When: | Action to be taken: | Methods: | |
An employee's RBC or serum cholinesterase levels fall more than twenty percent below the baseline | Evaluate the employee's workplace and work practices to identify and correct potential sources of pesticide exposure | Review: | |
• | Personal protective equipment (PPE) and its condition | ||
• | Employees' PPE usage | ||
• | General sanitation and decontamination practices and availability of decontamination facilities required by WAC 296-307-13050 | ||
• | Pesticide handling practices | ||
• | Pesticide label requirements | ||
An employee's RBC cholinesterase level falls thirty percent or more from the baseline OR An employee's serum cholinesterase level falls forty percent or more from the baseline | Remove the employee from handling and other work exposures to organophosphate and N-methyl-carbamate pesticides such as thinning and harvesting in recently treated areas AND Evaluate the employee's work practices to identify and correct potential sources of pesticide exposure | • | When available, provide the employee with other duties that do not include handling and other work exposures to organophosphate and N-methyl-carbamate pesticides |
• | Provide medical monitoring and cholinesterase testing as recommended by the LHCP | ||
• | Provide salary and benefits as if employee was continuing pesticide application activities | ||
A removed employee's cholinesterase levels return to twenty percent or less below baseline | The employee may return to handling class I and II organophosphate and N-methyl-carbamate pesticides | Continue periodic cholinesterase monitoring | |