Personal protection

Pesticides are toxic chemicals that should be handled, mixed, applied and stored in a manner that minimises the risk to all people and the environment. The person who carries out the mixing and application of the pesticides is at most risk because of the proximity to the pesticide. The use of appropriate protective equipment, knowledge of entry points of the chemical to the body and good safety habits reduce the chances of personal contamination and poisoning.

Principles of Protection

The basic principles for protection when using pesticides involve:

elimination by removing people from the work place that are not involved in the spraying operation.
substitution of chemicals for a less hazardous chemical.
use of mechanical chemical handling systems eg chemical induction systems and buffer areas
protection by using personal protective equipment.

Entry of Pesticides into the Body

Pesticides can enter the body in a number of different ways:

Rate of absorption

Acute poisonings usually result from inhalation or oral intake of the concentrate. Chronic exposure normally results from dermal contact. Pesticides are absorbed and transferred into the bloodstream more completely and quickly when they enter the body either orally or by inhalation. The greater incidence of exposure occurs through skin (dermal) contact. The selection of protective equipment must take into account the relative absorption rate for the different parts of the body.

Safety habit

The key to personal protection from pesticides is to get into a safe habit at all times when handling pesticides. Before any pesticide is used the most important principle is to know the pesticide. A good safety habit includes:

STOP- Read and understand the label
is it the right pesticide? Would a less toxic one do?
what is its persistence and withholding period?
what is its mode of action?
will it be a hazard to neighboring crops and people?
know the correct first aid/safety in case of poisoning
what are the safety requirements from the label

Mixing the pesticides

The hazard and chance of poisoning is much greater when handling pesticides in the concentrate than in the dilute form. To minimize exposure:

reduce or eliminate operator contact by using closed loading systems, auto fillers, wettable powder mixers and pouring aids
use the right protective clothing when handling the concentrate. The user is most at risk when handling chemical in this form
open bags carefully, cut to open
do not stir chemicals with hands or arms
choose carefully the mixing site, and the fate of probable residues that may drain from it

Protective equipment for mixing and spraying

The amount and type of protective equipment required for spray operators is determined by the:

properties of the chemical to be used
degree and duration of exposure
weather conditions and
application equipment to be used.

Over protection in some cases can be as bad as under protection. Conversely a respirator left hanging around the operators neck is useless. Read the label for the safety directions. Details about general use of the various type of protection equipment given in the table below.

Equipment	Pictogram	Principle	Comments
Clothing		Cover as much of the body as possible, especially the neck, chest and forearms. Use washable fabric overalls, disposable overalls and waterproof clothing if coming in contact with large quantities of pesticides	Under hot conditions beware of perspiration –this can increase the rate of entry into the body
		Use aprons mostly while mixing	An apron worn on the back helps protect from leaks when using knapsacks
Gloves		Never use leather or cloth materials because they absorb pesticides and provide a constant source of contamination.Gloves should be unlined for this reason.
Boots		Never use leather or cloth materials because they absorb pesticides and provide a constant source of contamination	Wear the trouser leg outside the boots
Head, face and eye protection		Hard hats, washable hatsGoggles shieldsSpray helmets	Important when handling concentrates.Avoid splashes
Respirators		Dust mask for particles and larger dropletsTypes of filtration available include mechanical, electrostatic and chemical. Choose the correct type and have the correct cartridge fitted.	Use a mask that matches the class of pesticide to be used. Replace cartridges regularly and write the date on each cartridge. Ensure there is an adequate fit on the face.
Clean up		Sprayers, protective equipment must be cleaned after application.People exposed should wash immediately.

< Prev		Next >