The Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) Program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University addresses the workplace health and safety needs of college faculty, staff, and students, as well as environmental stewardship of college farms and greenhouses. OEH provides pesticide applicator training and assistance with pesticide handling and storage, record keeping, reporting, regulatory interpretation and environmental management. OEH also provides farm safety programs, and assists with a variety of other safety, health and environmental issues found in agricultural research.
Video and On-line Trainings
Federal Worker Protection Standard Certification Classes
Worker Protection Standard (WPS) training is required by an EPA regulation. The training is designed to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from the risks of exposure to pesticide residues.
Trainings:
- Tractor Safety Training (on-line)
- Cryogen Safety Training Airgas (on-line)
- American Red Cross CPR/AED (January 12, 2024)
- Chainsaw Safety (Ithaca two sessions: December 12, 2023, and January 16, 2024; Geneva one session January 30, 2024)
Schedule/Required Pre-registration
For CALS Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) Training questions, email cals-oehtraining [at] cornell.edu.
Pesticides in the News
Important Information To Know
For more information about specific pesticides in the news, go to CALS OEH Pesticides page

Neonicotinoids
Neonicotinoid Reclassification NYS DEC Web Site: Pesticides Link
Effective January 1, 2023, pesticide products containing imidacloprid, acetamiprid and thiamethoxam that are labeled for foliar or widespread outdoor use or seed treatment will be reclassified as * restricted use *. A complete list of the pesticide products subject to this action can be found on the NYS DEC web site. In addition to this list, pesticide product registration and classification status for all DEC registered pesticide products can be found on the DEC's NYSPAD website.
Glyphosate
- DEC Information Regarding Glyphosate Use on State Property, February 11, 2022
- For more information go to CALS OEH Pesticides- Specific Pesticides
Malathion
- EPA Takes Steps to Protect Endangered and Threatened Species from Insecticide, March 8, 2022
- For more information go to CALS OEH Pesticides- Specific Pesticides
Contact CALS OEH
416 Kennedy Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Email: calsoeh [at] cornell.edu
Pesticide Worker Protection Standard
Staff
Director, CALS OEH
Email: eh22@cornell.edu
Email: pesticides@cornell.edu
SHEM Coordinator, Cornell Greenhouses
Email: abr6@cornell.edu
Email: cals-oehtraining@cornell.edu
CALS Chemical Inventory Manager
Email: klh54@cornell.edu
Email: cals-chemicals@cornell.edu
Administrative Assistant
Email: ajk287@cornell.edu
Lila Rallatos
Erin Brown