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
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-14825, filed 10/20/20, effective 11/20/20; WSR 06-01-074, § 296-307-14825, filed 12/20/05, effective 2/1/06; WSR 03-24-105, § 296-307-14825, filed 12/3/03, effective 2/1/04.]