UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON LAUNCHES UPDATED BILINGUAL APP TO IMPROVE PESTICIDE SAFETY FOR FARMWORKERS

The University of Washington has released an updated version of its mobile application, PestiSeguro™/PestiSafe™, designed to improve pesticide safety for agricultural and forestry workers across Washington and Oregon. The bilingual app delivers critical safety information in both Spanish and English, addressing a longstanding gap in accessible pesticide guidance.

For many Spanish speaking farmworkers, understanding pesticide labels has been a persistent challenge. While these labels contain essential safety instructions, they are typically written only in English, with minimal Spanish guidance. This language barrier can lead to improper handling and increased health risks.

According to data from the Washington State Department of Health, 630 cases of pesticide-related illness among farmworkers were reported in 2018. Of those affected, 90% preferred Spanish-language communication, and 79% of cases were linked to difficulty interpreting or acting on English-only safety instructions.

PestiSeguro™/PestiSafe™ aims to bridge this gap by providing workers with accessible, easy-to-understand safety information in their preferred language. Originally developed for the tree fruit industry, the app has expanded to support a broader range of agricultural and forestry applications. It now features a regularly updated database of more than 300 commonly used pesticides for specialty crops and vegetation management.

Key features of the app include offline functionality for use in remote areas, a user-friendly interface, and direct links to full pesticide labels in English through the Pesticide Information Online (PICOL) database. By improving access to safety information, the app is expected to help reduce chemical exposure risks and prevent costly errors in pesticide handling.

The application was developed by the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (PNASH), part of the University of Washington’s Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. PNASH is actively working with regional partners to promote widespread adoption of the app and is offering marketing materials, media messaging, and bilingual speakers to support outreach efforts.

PestiSeguro™/PestiSafe™ is available for free download on both Apple and Android devices.

For more information, contact Pablo Palmández at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center website.