Why does it matter if I get pesticide on my skin?
Splashes of some pesticides on the skin can cause direct problems such as irritation, swelling and dermatitis. Pesticides can also be absorbed through the skin into your body and may cause other health concerns. The label will advise you of these risks and how to avoid such exposure. The article on 'Hazard, risk and human health' explains this is more detail.
Typically, the label will state which protective clothing to wear. What you must wear will depend on the product and what you are doing. Thus, when loading a sprayer with an undiluted toxic pesticide, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements will be much more demanding then if spraying a low hazard and diluted spray solution. Skin risks and skin uptake from pesticide use is typically worse from the undiluted product – especially when oil based solvents are used. Formulations other than liquids such as Water Dispersible Granules [WDG] are inherently safer to use because – unlike liquid formulations – these dry products are easily reflected off the skin.
Labels may also refer to ‘Engineering controls’ which is equipment that may be used to lessen any operator exposure hazard. Preference is always given to those control systems that contain any potential problem at source.
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