Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Slides 1 - 15 | Slides 16 - 28 | Flash movie
N.B. This is a text only version of slides 1 - 15 of the training module "Personal protective equipment (PPE)" which is also available to download as a PowerPoint presentation or view as a Flash Movie.
The 5 Golden Rules
- Before using any crop protection product/pesitcides, always read its label and make sure you understand all safety needs
- Handle crop protection products carefully at all times to avoid contact or contamination
- Maintain sprayers well, fixing, for example, any leaks before starting an application
- Practice good personal hygiene
- Use appropriate protective clothing as last line of defence and not to become careless and increase exposure risks.
Avoiding exposure risks
Reduce potential contamination through the adoption of good working practices:
- Always fix leaking sprayers before use.
- Use nozzles that produce largest drop size advised by label (Equipment that produce finer droplets are more likely to cause contamination)
- Higher water volume rates are inherently safer than those more concentrated. Use within label stated ranges.
- Use spraying equipment that meets the FAO recommended specifications.
- Always direct the spraying nozzle downwind.
- Avoid spraying in very windy conditions.
- Avoid walking through vegetation that has just been sprayed.
- Immediately wash any splashes of undiluted product from the skin and eyes.
Exposure Studies
- Most operator contamination is likely during the mixing process and if using leaking application equipment.
- Most contamination during spraying was on the hands, due to leaking trigger assemblies.
- Product absorption rates through bare skin of operators will vary with location on body and the condition of the skin. Scratches and sores absorb more product than unbroken skin.
- Studies identify not just how much exposure is likely but where, too.
| ___________________ | ______________________ |
| Location on body | Relative absorption |
| through bare skin % | |
| ___________________ | ______________________ |
| Forearm | 8.6 |
| Palm of hands | 11.8 |
| Ball of foot | 13.5 |
| Abdomen | 18.4 |
| Scalp | 32.1 |
| Forehead | 36.3 |
| Ear canal | 46.5 |
| Genitalia | 100 |
Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension
- In general - where skin is ‚thinner‘ and where that area has major blood supplies then the greater the rate of absorption.
PPE: Label Information
- Every product label will identify the protective equipment requirements for both measuring/mixing as well as for application.
- This information is shown as pictograms – to help total understanding by all product users, and is grouped into the following activities.
- Example pictograms
Use of pictograms that help ensure product safety.
- Examples of pictograms identifying protective equimpment requirements.
- Pictogram for an example of a WHO Class ll product (moderately hazardous)
Personal Protective Equipment can vary with products and their use
- Lower risk of exposure
- Medium risk of exposure
- Higher risk of exposure
Storage and maintenance of PPE
- Always store protective equipment separately from crop protection products.
- Wash gloves, aprons, boots and face shields after use.
- Wash spray clothing separately from domestic washing.
- Change respirator filters following the manufacturers guidelines.
Typical key items of PPE
Spraying diluted product solutions:
- Boots or non permeable footwear
- Coverall, 2 piece suit or long sleeved shirt & long trousers
- Broad brimmed hat
For preparing undiluted products also use:
- Gloves: Nitrile gloves give best protection
- Face shield or goggles
- Apron
- Respirator - needed for volatile products or as shown on the label
PPE required by local legislation will be shown on the label
- Visors can be made out of an empty clear plastic drinks bottle and string.
PPE: Self made equipment
If commercially made gloves, visors or aprons are not available then, at least:
- Use plastic bags to replace gloves. Use these once. Dispose following best practice.
- Apron can be made out of a heavy duty plastic sack.
- Visor can be made out of an empty clear plastic drinks bottle and string.
Standard (minimal) PPE for body protection when spraying diluted product
| Work Clothes consisting of long sleeved shirt and long trousers | Least preferred |
| Work Clothes as above but used only for pesticide application | better |
| 2 piece suit specifically designed for use as PPE | preferred |
| Coverall specifically designed for use as PPE | preferred |
Further safety considerations when mixing & loading pesticides
| Standard PPE = Normal Work Clothes (long sleeved shirt, long trousers) | Standard PPE + extra protection = |
| + Boots | + Coverall (double layer) |
| + Gloves | + Apron |
| + Eye Protection (goggles or face shield) | + Respiratory protection |
| + Dust mask (dry formulations only) |
Factors affecting risk when mixing and loading
| Factors reducing risks | Factors increasing risks |
| ______________________ | ________________________ |
| * Formulation type | *Solvent based formulations |
| * Water soluble bags | * High vapour pressure |
| * Low acute toxicity/ irritation | * High acute toxicity/irritation |
| * Closed transfer system | * Poor equipment choice/use |
| * Small quantities handled | * Inappropriate container size/type |
PPE: Safety considerations when spraying
| Standard PPE = | Standard PPE + Extra protection |
| Normal work clothes | +/- Coverall (double layer) |
| (long sleeved shirt, long trousers) | +/- Poncho (partial double layer) |
| + boots | +/- Gloves |
| +/- Broad brimmed hat | |
| +/- Eye protection | |
| +/- Respiratory protection |
Factors affecting risk when spraying
| Factors reducing risk | Factors increasing risk |
| _____________________ | _______________________ |
| * Tractor mounted sprayer | * Leaking knapsack |
| * Well maintained knapsack sprayer | * Spraying with nozzle above head height |
| * Knapsack spraying with nozzle below waist height | * High crops (tree crops, cotton,...) |
| * Tractor with cab | * Spray gun use in tree crops overhead |
| * Small area to treat | * Glasshouse [confined] crops |
| * Spot treatment | * Frequent, long term, users who are inadequately trained |
| * Bare soil treatment | * Product characteristics (e.g. High dermal absorption, volatility,...) |
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW LABEL RECOMMENDATIONS
References
Machera, K., Goumenou, M., Kapetanakis, E., Kalamarakis, A., Glass, C.R., (2003) Determination of Potential Dermal and Inhalation Operator Exposure to Malathion in Greenhouses with the Whole Body Dosimetry Method. The Annals of Occupational Hygiene Vol. 47, No. 1. pp. 61-70.
Matthews, G. (2002) OPERATOR EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES. Pesticide Outlook Volume 13, Issue 6, 2002 pp 233-237 (3.09 MB pdf file)
Matthews, G. (2002) SAFER PESTICIDE APPLICATION IN AFRICA Pesticide Outlook Volume 13, Issue 5, 2002 pp 197-198 (347Kb pdf file)