Working Safely With Pesticides

Working Safely With Pesticides

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0812

Session ObjectivesYou will be able to:• Recognize hazards and health effects of

pesticides and know how to get necessary safety and health information

• Understand entry restrictions• Know how to use pesticide application

equipment safely• Understand the importance of PPE and

proper hygiene• Know what to do in an emergency


What You Need to Know• How pesticides enter your body• OSHA and EPA regulations• Training requirements• Labels and warnings• Entry restrictions and trained entry• Pesticide equipment• PPE, hygiene, and first aid


What Are Pesticides?• Toxic chemical

compounds• Protect plants from

insects• Can be toxic to

workers who apply the pesticides


How Are Pesticides Regulated?• OSHA (29 CFR 1910.1200)• EPA (40 CFR 170)


Which Jobs Are Covered?• Hand labor• Mixing or applying pesticides• Working with pesticide equipment• Disposing of pesticides• Working in pesticide application areas


How Can Pesticides Enter Your Body?• Eye contact• Skin contact• Inhalation• Swallowing• Sensitization


What Are the Health Effects?• Eye irritation or

blindness• Skin irritation or rash• Headache, dizziness,

nausea, or fatigue• Damage to nose, throat,

lungs, or organs• Irritation, nervousness,

or diarrhea• Fever, convulsions,

difficulty breathing, or death

Image Credit: EPA


Who Needs Training?• Agricultural workers• Pesticide Handlers

Image Credit: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation


General Training Requirements• Pesticide hazards• Routes of exposure• Symptoms of pesticide poisoning


General Training Requirements (cont.)

• Emergency first aid and how to obtain medical care

• Decontamination procedures

• Warnings about taking pesticides home


Special Requirements for Agricultural Workers• Where and how pesticides might be

encountered• Hazards of pesticide drift• Hazards from pesticide residues on clothing• Explanation of EPA protection requirements


Special Requirements for Pesticide Handlers• Pesticide labeling

information• PPE• Prevention, recognition,

and first aid for heat-related illness

• Safety requirements for handling pesticides

• Environmental concerns

• Pesticide application


Container Labels• Name of pesticide• Manufacturer• Hazards• How to use it safely

Image Credit: EPA


Container Labels (cont.)

• Skull and crossbones• Danger or Warning• Restricted entry

interval• MSDS


Image Credit: EPA

Warning Signs• Protect people working

near pesticides• Danger, Pesticides,

Keep Out• Frowning face and

upraised arms• Pesticide name and

date applied


Warning Signs (cont.)

• Located on path to work area

• Big and clear enough to read

• Put up before pesticide application

• Removed after restricted entry time


Spoken Warnings• Before pesticide

applied• Before your shift• Which areas treated• Time before entering

area

Image Credit: Univ. of FL/IFAS Pesticide Information Office


Pesticide Safety Posters• Obey warning signs• Don’t touch or inhale pesticides• Pay attention to hygiene• Wear protective clothing• Do not smoke• Follow decontamination procedures

after work


Pesticide Safety Information• Do you understand the

information presented in the previous slides?


Entry Restrictions• Only trained and equipped handlers allowed

to enter area during application• Stay well clear of the area• Restriction can last 12 to 72 hours• Refer to container label• Ventilate and monitor greenhouses


Trained Entry• Safe air, touch nothing• Safe air, brief tasks• Agricultural emergency• Exception from EPA


Pesticide Equipment• Know how to use

equipment safely• Inspect equipment

before each use• Keep in contact with

someone when using equipment

• Keep labeling information accessible

• Remember that equipment is contaminated


PPE• Chemical-resistant

clothing• Chemical-resistant

gloves• Glove liners• Foot protection


PPE (cont.)

• Eye and face protection

• Hat with brim or hood• Respirator


Inspect PPE• Inspect before each use• Look for holes, tears, worn areas• Replace damaged PPE• Make sure PPE fits properly


Care for PPE• Remove contaminated

PPE carefully• Clean reusable PPE• Launder protective

clothing separately• Store PPE separately • Do not take PPE or

other potentially contaminated items home


Good Hygiene• Wash after every task

is completed• Use soap, water, and

paper towels• Carry eye flush bottle• Special cleanup areas

will be provided


First Aid• Eyes—flush with water• Skin—wash with soap

and water• Inhalation—move to

fresh air


First Aid (cont.)

• Swallowing—get emergency medical assistance

• Follow up first aid with medical evaluation


Working Safely with Pesticides• Do you understand the

information presented in the previous slides?


Key Points to Remember• Understand pesticide hazards• Read container labels and heed warnings• Stay out of restricted areas • Use pesticide applications equipment

properly• Wear required PPE and practice good

hygiene• Know what to do in an emergency

Documents

Working Safely With Pesticides