JA:2021-9. Pesticide Label Safety Information in Spanish and English: In Your Hand, Anytime & Anywhere

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: The Etiquetas bilingües de pesticidas, or Bilingual Pesticide Safety project, aims to put pesticide label health, safety, and environmental protection information directly into the hands of end-users – pesticide handlers and managers. These mobile applications provide producers a risk management tool for minimizing health, safety, environmental, fiscal, and reputational risks associated with pesticide use. The initial spark for the project occurred in 2006 when formative research on pesticide safety needs for Washington State (WA) identified a significant safety barrier: pesticide labels are in English, while Spanish is the primary language of most agricultural workers. Methods: As smart phones and mobile devices have become essential work and personal tools, they were selected as the delivery platform to put this safety information into the hands of end-users. This bilingual app features the English label content and true, accessible Spanish translations; easy iaccess through a menu; and full-function offline for use on remote farms lacking connectivity. Research for this translation project has three phases. Phase 1 (2016): First generation pilot app (pome fruit) for proof-of-concept. Phase 2 (2018): Second generation β-app for expansion (tree fruit). Phase 3 (2020–2022): Product upgrades (WA specialty crops), added features, and distribution through app stores. Each phase includes end users evaluating app function, usability, and translations. Results: The pilot and ß-apps demonstrated that the design and user-friendly interface was appropriate, the translations were excellent (“[They’re] like the translations I use”), and stakeholders were eager for full product availability. Similar results were obtained from the first user tests for Phase 3. Stakeholders, including producers, industry organizations, state agencies, and end-users, are now partners in support of Phase 3 currently underway. Discussion and Conclusion: With strong industry support, two apps are now funded for WA. ¡Etiquetas de pesticides, ahora!/Pesticide Labels, Now! with safety information from 40 labels used in apple and pear production will be released in Winter 2020. The PestiSeguro™/PestiSafe™ app covers labels for WA specialty crops with a 3-year staged release starting in 2020. Initially this app will be available without charge as we develop a roadmap for future growth and financial sustainability and build partnerships for these endeavors.