a statue of a bear cub with a red scarf, sunglasses, and a red mask

CALS OEH

Occupational & Environmental Health Program

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.

WPS Information, Resources, and Policies

Trainings:

  • Tractor Safety Training (on-line) 
  • American Red Cross CPR/AED (October 20th morning & afternoon sessions in Ithaca and November 1st morning & afternoon sessions at AgriTech (Geneva)
  • Cryogen Safety Training Airgas (on-line)
  • Fall Safety Training (TBD Fall 2023)
Video and On-line Trainings

Schedule/Required Pre-registration

For CALS Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) Training questions, email cals-oehtraining [at] cornell.edu.

Register Now!

Pesticides in the News

Important Information To Know

For more information about specific pesticides in the news, go to CALS OEH Pesticides page

Specific Pesticides
a corn field
Corn field at Musgrave Research Farm. Credit: Matt Hayes (CALS)

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

Eric Harrington

Director, CALS OEH
Email: eh22@cornell.edu
Email: pesticides@cornell.edu

Aimee Andersen

SHEM Coordinator, Cornell Greenhouses
Email: abr6@cornell.edu
Email: cals-oehtraining@cornell.edu

Kelly Hanley

CALS Chemical Inventory Manager
Email: klh54@cornell.edu
Email: cals-chemicals@cornell.edu

Mandy Kafka

Administrative Assistant
Email: ajk287@cornell.edu

Student Assistants

Lila Rallatos
Erin Brown