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Protecting Yourself While Applying Pesticides
Using Personal Protective Equipment
Protecting yourself while applying pesticides
is important.
According to the Environmental Protection
Agency, a pesticide is any substance or mixture
of substances intended to prevent, destroy
or repel any pest.
Simply put, pesticides are substances intended
to kill pests!
But can they harm people?
Humans, insects and rodents are very different
from one another.
But in many ways, they are also similar.
They have similar nervous, circulatory and
respiratory systems.
So, a pesticide that attacks an insect's
nervous system could attack your nervous system, too.
So, let's talk about ways you can protect
yourself when applying pesticides.
A big part of protecting yourself is using
your Personal Protective Equipment,
also known as PPE.
First, we'll talk about signal words.
Then we'll define PPE,
the minimum recommended
PPE,
how to care for your PPE,
and, finally,
how to properly launder the clothing you wear
when applying pesticides.
Signal Words
The impacts of some pesticides on your health
may be short term.
Short-term effects are known as "acute effects."
Acute effects include rashes, eye irritation,
or nausea and vomiting.
They happen immediately after exposure to
a pesticide.
But, health effects of pesticides may also
be long term.
Long term effects are known as "chronic
effects." Cancer is a chronic effect and
may impact your health long after the pesticide
exposure.
Thus, it is very important that you understand
the toxicity of the pesticides you handle.
How can you know the toxicity of a pesticide?
Each pesticide has a signal word on the label
that tells you how toxic it is.
The signal word is based on how lethal it
is to human life, and the damage it could
do to other animals or the environment.
There are 4 signal words used for pesticides:
Caution, Warning, Danger, and Danger-Poison.
Caution: Pesticides marked with "Caution"
can cause slight eye or skin irritation.
These are the lowest toxicity pesticides.
Warning: Pesticides marked with "Warning"
can also cause skin or eye irritation, AND
symptoms of pesticide poisoning.
These effects can happen with only a small
amount of the pesticide.
These are moderately toxic pesticides.
Danger: Pesticides marked with "Danger"
can be lethal in small amounts.
Eye and skin damage can be permanent.
These pesticides have a high toxicity.
Danger / Poison: Pesticides marked with
"Danger-Poison' can be lethal to humans
in very small amounts.
These pesticides have a very high toxicity.
General Use Pesticides can be purchased by
anyone.
Most General Use Pesticides use the signal
words "Caution" or "Warning."
The more toxic pesticides that use the signal
words "Danger" or "Danger-Poison"
are called Restricted Use Pesticides.
These can only be purchased by Certified or
Licensed Pesticide Applicators.
And they can only be applied by Certified
or Licensed Pesticide Applicators,
or by someone under their direct supervision.
Personal Protective Equipment
You may not get to choose the pesticide you
are asked to apply.
But you do have a choice in the way you protect
yourself.
Personal Protective Equipment, known as PPE,
is the clothing and equipment you use to protect
yourself during a pesticide application.
The PPE required when using a specific pesticide
is listed on the pesticide label.
PPE requirements may be different for applying
pesticides than for mixing pesticides.
You must read the label.
When you use a pesticide, you are entering
into an agreement with the federal government.
You are agreeing to Read, Understand, and
Follow all label directions.
It is important that you read the entire pesticide
label.
If the label directs you to a website or fact
sheet about the pesticide,
you must read that material also.
The Minimum PPE Recommended for a Pesticide
Application
If the pesticide label does not specify PPE
what should you wear?
The minimum PPE includes seven items:
A long-sleeved shirt.
Long pants.
Socks.
Waterproof shoes or boots.
Gloves that are waterproof and chemical proof.
Waterproof hat.
And eye protection, such as goggles.
Here are some tips when choosing and using
your PPE:
When you put on your waterproof boots, DO
NOT tuck your pants into your boots!
If you accidentally spray the pants, the pesticide
could run down into your boots.
Leather or canvas shoes can absorb pesticides;
these are not waterproof.
Choose rubber or other waterproof material
instead.
The same idea applies to gloves.
Leather, canvas, and cotton gloves can absorb
pesticides; these are not waterproof.
When choosing gloves, read the label to determine
if the gloves are water- AND chemical-proof.
When choosing gloves, also make sure they
reach up your forearm close to your elbow.
Long gloves like these can give you better
protection than short gloves,
which can expose your wrists.
Safety glasses may not offer enough protection,
so wear goggles instead.
Routine Care of PPE
Here are four tips for taking good care of your PPE:
Store your PPE in a safe area away from pesticides
and other chemicals.
Clean your PPE before each day's use.
Clean your goggles, chemical resistant gloves,
and water-proof boots.
Worn or damaged PPE should be replaced.
Check your boots, gloves, and hat carefully
for tears or holes.
Sometimes the pesticide may require additional
PPE,
such as a chemical resistant apron, face mask,
or disposable coveralls.
Your employer should provide these items.
If a respirator is required, your employer
should also provide it.
The respirator will require a fit test to
make sure that it works when it's on your face.
Tips for Laundering Pesticide Application
Clothing
Your employer may provide disposable coveralls
for high toxicity pesticide applications.
Follow your employer's procedures for disposing
of these coveralls.
When you are applying lower-toxicity pesticides,
you may be wearing your own clothing.
Here are ten tips for taking care of your
personal clothing after a pesticide application.
Remember, after applying a pesticide you should
always assume that you probably have contaminated
your clothing with the pesticide.
Wash such clothing before wearing it again.
Here are some tips for washing pesticide contaminated
clothing.
One. Don't bother washing clothing that is soaked
with pesticides.
Dispose of any clothing that is soaked with
pesticides the same way you would dispose
of waste pesticides.
We'll talk about how to do this in another
video.
Two. Put gloves on before handling pesticide-contaminated clothing.
Three. Shake clothing outside if you have been working
with pesticides that are granular,
dust or powdered.
Check pockets and cuffs for pesticides as
you shake them out.
Be careful not to breath in the dust.
So, wear goggles and/or a dust mask while
you do this.
Four. Wash pesticide application clothing each day.
If this is not possible, store the unwashed,
pesticide-contaminated clothing by itself
in a plastic bag.
And store this bag outside of your house,
not in your bedroom, laundry room, or garage.
Keep the bag away from children and pets.
As you do all this, don't let the clothing
come in contact with any other fabric.
Wash your work clothing as soon as possible.
Five. Always wash pesticide-contaminated clothing
separately from uncontaminated clothing.
Six. Wash in the hottest water possible for the
longest cycle possible.
If the machine has a setting for a second
rinse, use that setting.
Seven. Use heavy duty laundry detergent.
Laundry additives, such as bleach or ammonia,
are not useful in removing pesticide residues.
Eight. Dry the clothing in direct sunlight if possible.
Sunlight can help inactivate pesticides.
Nine. After your clothes are done, run an empty
load of only water through the washing machine
before washing uncontaminated clothing.
Ten. Always shower after washing contaminated clothing
and before you touch family members.
To summarize the tips in this video:
Use the correct PPE for the pesticide you  are applying.
Care for your PPE properly.
Inspect PPE daily before use to make sure
there are no tears or holes.
Store your PPE properly.
Properly care for your own clothing that may
have been contaminated with pesticides.
Always read the pesticide label for safety
information, what equipment to wear,
and how to handle the pesticide.
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