Working Safely With Pesticides

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Working Safely With Pesticides
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Session Objectives

• You 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

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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

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What Are Pesticides?

• Toxic chemical compounds
• Protect plants from insects
• Can be toxic to workers who apply the pesticides

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How Are Pesticides Regulated?

• OSHA (29 CFR 1910.1200)
• EPA (40 CFR 170)

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Which Jobs Are Covered?

• Hand labor
• Mixing or applying pesticides
• Working with pesticide equipment
• Disposing of pesticides
• Working in pesticide application areas

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How Can Pesticides Enter Your Body?

• Eye contact
• Skin contact
• Inhalation
• Swallowing
• Sensitization

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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
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Who Needs Training?

• Agricultural workers
• Pesticide Handlers

Image Credit The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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General Training Requirements

• Pesticide hazards
• Routes of exposure
• Symptoms of pesticide poisoning

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General Training Requirements (cont.)

• Emergency first aid and how to obtain medical
  care
• Decontamination procedures
• Warnings about taking pesticides home

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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

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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

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Container Labels

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

Image Credit EPA
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Container Labels (cont.)

• Skull and crossbones
• Danger or Warning
• Restricted entry interval
• MSDS

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Warning Signs

• Protect people working near pesticides
• Danger, Pesticides, Keep Out
• Frowning face and upraised arms
• Pesticide name and date applied

Image Credit EPA
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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

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Spoken Warnings

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

Image Credit Univ. of FL/IFAS Pesticide
Information Office
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Pesticide Safety Posters

• Obey warning signs
• Dont touch or inhale pesticides
• Pay attention to hygiene
• Wear protective clothing
• Do not smoke
• Follow decontamination procedures after work

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Pesticide Safety Information

• Do you understand the information presented in
  the previous slides?

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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

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Trained Entry

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

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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

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PPE

• Chemical-resistant clothing
• Chemical-resistant gloves
• Glove liners
• Foot protection

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PPE (cont.)

• Eye and face protection
• Hat with brim or hood
• Respirator

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Inspect PPE

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

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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

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Good Hygiene

• Wash after every task is completed
• Use soap, water, and paper towels
• Carry eye flush bottle
• Special cleanup areas will be provided

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First Aid

• Eyesflush with water
• Skinwash with soap and water
• Inhalationmove to fresh air

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First Aid (cont.)

• Swallowingget emergency medical assistance
• Follow up first aid with medical evaluation

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Working Safely with Pesticides

• Do you understand the information presented in
  the previous slides?

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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