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Protective clothing and equipment can help growers avoid direct contact with pesticides.
Everybody knows this. Not everybody takes the time to protect themselves by wearing
the proper equipment. This program will take a look at where and when exposure can occur and it will review
the protective clothing and equipment you need to wear to prevent pesticide exposure.
While preparing or applying pesticides the possibility for exposure is constantly around
you. Picking up and moving pesticide containers that may have been contaminated. Carelessly
opening a container. Spills or splashback during mixing. All of these exposures can
occur before you've even started spraying. Once you begin an application, there are any
number of ways you can become exposed. Leaky equipment can drip large amounts of concentrated
pesticide on your skin. Walking or driving through your own spray mist can result in
extremely high levels of exposure. Even brushing up against recently sprayed foliage can expose
you to pesticide. No matter how careful you are, you will be exposed to pesticides if
you don't wear the necessary protective clothing and equipment. Farmers in Ontario are trained
to handle and apply pesticides, some are extremely careful, others are less careful. This grower is taking no chances. The protective
clothing and equipment he is wearing gives him plenty of insurance against exposure.
This grower on the other hand is in a hurry, he did however take the time to put on a pair
of chemical resistant gloves. He promised himself he would be really careful. We already know which one will have the greatest
pesticide exposure but just to emphasize this point, let's take a look at the difference
in the level of exposure under ultraviolet light. For the purpose of these two demonstrations,
these two growers were not handling pesticides. They were handling a solution of water mixed
with a special florescent dye. Areas exposed to the dye will glow when placed under ultraviolet
light. As you would expect, Grower A has practically no exposure whatsoever. Grower B's exposure on the other hand, is
dramatic.
Once the spraying job is finished you are still at risk. Exposure from surfaces that
are contaminated with pesticides can be just as dramatic as exposure from the actual spraying
process. Tractors and other farming equipment are obvious sources of contamination. Keep
your protective clothing on when mounting and dismounting your tractor, until you have
a chance to wash the tractor or other equipment down. Your protective clothing may also be
highly contaminated so it is important to remove and clean it carefully as well in order
to avoid secondary contamination. And always make sure you wash up before entering your
house for lunch. Secondary contamination in the home can pose a real hazard to your family.
To protect yourself and your family, you need to know what protective clothing to wear,
when to wear it, how to put it on and how to take it off as well as how to handle, wash
and take care of such things as aprons, gloves and so on. What to wear is easy, just read
the label. The label will specify special precautions you need to take. Special precautions
aside, always wear the following when handling any pesticides. A water repellent hat, a long
sleeve shirt and pants or coveralls, elbow length, unlined chemical resistant gloves,
tall, unlined chemical-resistant boots. That's what you need to wear at all times. During
mixing and loading operations you need extra protection. Wear goggles and a face shield
to protect your face and eyes. A resirator if the label calls for one and a water repellant
suit or apron. The protective clothing and equipment you need depends on the job you
are doing. Each step of the spraying operation requires varying degrees of protection. Consider
the job at hand, read the label, it outlines the different precautions you need to take
during the various stages of the spraying process. From mixing and loading to application
to post-application cleanup.
The best gear in the world may not provide you with complete protection if you don't
use it properly. It's important to know what clothing and equipment to choose and it's
important to know how to use it. The objective is to wear what's necessary to protect your
body, your hands, your feet, your head and if necessary your lungs. Assuming your equipment
was clean and uncontaminated in the first place, once you are suited up you should be
well protected. Here are some of the do's and don'ts of protection. Most pesticides are absorbed by the skin and
can easily pass into the blood stream so it is very important to protect your body. Wear
a long sleeve shirt and pants. Coveralls dedicated to the purpose of spraying also provide good
protection. Don't use those coveralls for any other purpose other than spraying. Disposable
coveralls designed for pesticide use work well. Don't use disposables designed for dust
and dirt. They won't do you any good. Wear only unlined, elbow-length gloves made from neoprene, nitrile or PVC and replace
them on a regular basis. Never wear lined gloves or gloves made from leather or cloth.
And don't use domestic rubber gloves. Always check gloves for leaks. For better protection,
fold down the top of the gloves to make a cuff to trap spills. And wear the sleeves
of your shirt or coveralls overtop to help prevent any spills into your gloves. Like hands, feet can easily become contaminated
if you walk through spills or spray close to your body. Unlined rubber boots provide
the best protection. Lined boots as well as canvas or leather boots absorb pesticide and
can't be properly washed out. Wear your pant legs outside of your boots to stop pesticide
from getting into the boot. If you do spill anything into your boots, wash and change
your boots and socks immediately. Wear a wide-brimmed, waterproof rain hat or hood to protect your head and neck. Hard hats
also provide good protection for most spray situations, like rain hats they can be easily
cleaned. Don't wear baseball caps or hats with cloth or leather bands. These materials
absorb the pesticide and hold it against your skin. Do yourself a favour, invest in a good
quality rain hat. Your eyes are the most sensitive part of your body when it comes to pesticide absorption.
Eyes absorb pesticide quickly and completely. Some pesticides will cause permanent damage
if they contact the eyes. Glasses aren't good enough, wear goggles. Don't wear contact lenses.
They will absorb the pesticide and hold it against your eye. Wear a full face shield
during mixing and loading for extra protection.
Your lungs are extremely good at transporting gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide to and
from your blood stream. They will do just as good a job with pesticide vapours. Wear
an approved air-purifying respirator. Don't wear a dust mask. Dust masks provide no protection
whatsoever. The most common type of respirator is the half mask. Make sure you buy cartridges
and pre-filters that protect against organic vapours. Ask the chemical sales rep for the
right kind of filters for your half mask respirator. Use the pre-filters and cartridges together
to protect yourself properly. Change the pre-filters after each use. Change the cartridges at least
once a year, more often if you can smell or taste pesticides. Air purifying respirators
come in different shapes and sizes. Buy the right size for your face and make sure it
fits properly. Do a negative fit check everytime by covering the cartridges with your hands
and breathing in. The mask will draw tightly to your face if there are no leaks. How do
you care for and clean your protective clothing and equipment when you are finished spraying
is extrememly important. Carelessness at this stage of the spraying operation can lead to
contamination, it could be dangerous to you and it could ultimately affect innocent bystanders.
Watch as this grower cleans up after spraying. Write down point by point the things you think
he is doing properly.
So you see, you can reduce the hazards of using pesticides by wearing the proper protective
clothing and equipment. The type of equipment you use will depend on the type of pesticide
you are using and the type of spraying operations you are conducting. Be informed about the
type of equipment you need to wear and make sure you care for that equipment properly.