The Growing Threat of the
Agriculture Workplace
Pacific Avian Influenza Training Workshop
Carter Davis
Pacific EMPRINTS Program
Threats & Problems
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Farm Chemicals
Industrial Chemicals
Biological
Terrorism
Storage
Transportation
Proper Use
Chemicals
Hazard Class 1: Explosives
• Background color:
– Orange
• Symbol:
– Exploding ball
Hazard Class 2: Gases
• Background color:
– Varies
• Symbol:
– Varies
• Non-flammable gases, flammable
gases, poisonous gases
INHALATION
HAZARD
Hazard Class 3: Flammable Liquids
• Background color:
– Red
• Symbol:
– Flame
• Flammable & combustible liquids
Hazard Class 4: Flammable Solids
• Background color:
– Red & white candy striped
– Blue if reacts with water
• Flammable solids, spontaneously
combustibles, dangerous when wet
Hazard Class 5:
Oxidizers & Organic Peroxides
• Background color:
– Yellow
• Symbol:
– Flaming ball
Hazard Class 6:
Poisons & Etiologic Materials
• Background color:
– White, with black lettering for
poisons
INHALATION
HAZARD
Hazard Class 7:
Radioactive Materials
• Background color:
– White on the bottom, yellow on
the top
• Symbol:
– Trefoil
Hazard Class 8: Corrosives
• Background color:
– Black on the bottom, white on
the top
• Symbol:
– Piece of metal and a hand
damaged by liquid
• Acids and bases
Hazard Class 9: Miscellaneous
• Hazardous materials not
specified in other classes
Facility Markings
• NFPA 704 Marking System
• Hazardous Materials
Identification System
(HMIS)
• Generally used on
smaller transfer
containers
Farm Chemicals
• Pesticides
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Insecticides
Rodenticides
Fungicides
Herbicides
• Fertilizers
• Animal Medications
• Cleaning Agents and Solvents
Pesticide Safety
• Reduce risk to exposure and injury
– Follow labels and MSDS
– Wear appropriate PPE
– Use the least hazardous chemicals at the recommended rate and
concentration
– Prepare only enough for immediate use
– Verify application equipment is working properly and does not
leak
– Don’t eat, drink or smoke while pouring, mixing or applying
– Work in pairs
– Clean all equipment thoroughly and without contaminating the
environment
– Wash work clothes separately
– Wash hands thoroughly after handling
Pesticide Safety
• Take Additional Precautions
– Have a first aid kit nearby and include resuscitation
mask, eye wash solution, soap
– Have fresh water available
– Have all workers take first aid training
– Check labels and MSDS for proper handling,
application,
– Check with nearby health care facilities for proper
stock of antidotes and emergency supplies
– Stop work and seek medical attention if there is any
sign of muscular spasms, blurred vision, excessive
saliva, or difficulty breathing
Pesticide Storage
• Store chemicals in a well-ventilated area
• Store in shed with good lighting and has impervious floor
and shelving
• Use secondary containment
• Store chemicals in original containers
• Place an external sign indicating chemical storage
• Keep incompatible materials separate
• Keep a spill kit nearby
• Keep away from food, animal feed, fertilizers and seeds
• Have access to an emergency shower nearby
Pesticide Transport
• Avoid transporting with food, water, animal feed,
fertilizers, seeds and reactive substances
• Secure in or on vehicle to prevent movement and
change in orientation.
• Keep shipping documents or records of the items
you are carrying
• Carry a spill kit and appropriate personal
protective equipment with the vehicle
Pesticide Disposal
• Take notice of warnings on the labels regarding
toxicity to non-target areas
• Check label/MSDS for advice on disposal
• Triple rinse empty containers
• Uncap, puncture and crush all rinsed containers
• When possible return containers to supplier or
manufacture
• Check with local government authority for
information on safe disposal
FIFRA Label Requirements
• Front Panel
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Restricted Use Pesticide Statement (if applicable)
Product Name, Brand, Trademark
Ingredient Statement
Keep out of Reach of Children (KOOROC Statement)
Signal Word (Caution, Warning, Danger)
First Aid (Statement of Practical Treatment)
Skull & Crossbones “POISON” for high toxicity
Net Contents/Net Weight
FIFRA Label Requirements
• Front or Back Panel
– EPA Registration Number & Establishment Number
– Company Name and Address
• Back Panel
– Precautionary Statements (Hazards to Humans and Animals,
Environmental Hazards, Physical and Chemical Hazards)
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Directions for Use
Storage and Disposal
Warranty Statement
Worker Protection Labeling
C.B.R.N.E Terrorism
Biological
Chemical
Nuclear
Radiological
Explosive
Toxicology
• What's Toxic? How is it determined?
• Physical Hazards - Mechanical
– Fire, Heat, Explosions, Falling Objects
• Health Hazards - Biological
– Bodily Contact
– Immediate and/or Delayed Reactions
Dose
• Concentration
– percent,
– PPMs, PPBs, Mg/Kg
Concentration
• 1,000,000 ppm =
%
– 100%
• 100,000 ppm =
%
– 10%
• 10,000 ppm =
%
– 1%
• 1,000 ppm = 0.1%
• 100 ppm = 0.01%
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10 ppm = 0.001%
1 ppm = 0.0001%
1 ppb = 0.0000001%
1 ppt= 0.0000000001%
Concentration
Which one is more toxic?
Product A
Product B
Toxic effect when
exposed to
9,000 ppm
Toxic effect when
exposed to
90 ppm
Industrial Toxic Thresholds
• By Inhalation
– TLV/TWA - Threshold Limit Value-Time
Weighted, day to day exposure without adverse
health effects (ACGIH)
– STEL - Short Term Exposure Limit - may
exceed TLV/TWA for up to 15 minutes but not
to occur more than 4 times per day
– TLV-C - should never exceed (ACGIH)
– REL- Recommended Exposure Limit (NIOSH)
Industrial Toxic Thresholds
(continue)
• By Inhalation
– PEL - Permissible Exposure Limit (OSHA)
– IDLH - Immediately Dangerous to Life or
Health (NIOSH)
– LC50 - Lethal Concentration by inhalation
(animal) anything less than 200 mg/kg is
considered a poison
Industrial Toxic Thresholds
(continue)
• By Ingestion
– LD50 - Lethal Dose by ingestion or skin
absorption (animal) less than 200 mg/kg is
considered a poison.
– Carcinogens - cancer causing (N/A or no
exposure)
Industrial Substances
PEL TWA (8 hrs & STEL)
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Acetone – 750 ppm, 1,000 ppm
Unleaded Gasoline – 300 ppm, 500 ppm
Carbon Monoxide – 35 ppm, 400 ppm
Ammonia – 25 ppm, 35 ppm
Hydrogen Sulfide – 9.9 ppm, 15 ppm
Hydrogen Cyanide – 10 ppm
Chlorine – 1 ppm
Hydrazine – 0.1 ppm
Chemical Substances
PEL TWA (8 hrs & STEL)
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Phosgene – 0.099 ppm
2-chloroethyl sulfide – 0.0005 ppm
Lewisite – 0.0004 ppm
Tabun – 0.000017 ppm
Somin – 0.000004 ppm
VX (O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylamino)ethyl
methylphosphonothiolate – 0.0000009 ppm
Relative Toxicity by Inhalation
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>500 ppm - Toxic
101-500 ppm - Moderately Toxic
1-100 ppm - Highly Toxic
<1 ppm - Super Toxic
– Based upon the lowest value listed for the
substance, usually TLV/TWA, STEL or PEL
Relative Toxicity by Ingestion
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>5 gm/kg - Toxic
.5 gm-5gm/kg - Moderately Toxic
50 mg-500 mg/kg - Highly Toxic
1 mg-50mg/kg - Super Toxic
– Based upon animal LD50
– gm of product per kg of body weight of target
organism
Dose
• Concentration
– percent, PPMs, PPBs, Mg/Kg
• Duration of Exposure
– Acute Vs Chronic, Sensitization
• Routes
– Inhalation, Ingestion, Absorption, Injection
Dose (continued)
• Susceptible Target Organs
– Nervous System, Skeleton & Marrow, Thyroid,
Lungs, Heart, Blood, Veins, Liver, Kidneys,
Intestines, Skin
• Health Variables
– body weight, age, physical condition, gender
• Dose/Response
Physical Properties
• Vapor Pressure - Rate of Evaporation
• Vapor Density - wt of vapor Vs wt of air
• Specific Gravity - wt of liquid Vs wt of
water
• Solubility - mixes with water
• Flash Point - min temp to produce enough
vapors to cause ignition but not sustain
combustion.
Physical Properties
• Fire Point - min temp to produce enough
vapors to sustain combustion
• Boiling Point - temp at which liquid
changes to gas at it’s maximum rate
• Flammable Range - the percent of vapor in
air that is able to burn
• Upper Explosive Limit (UEL) - max
percentage of vapor in air that will burn
Physical Properties
• Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) - min
percentage of vapor in air that will burn
• Expansion Ration - ratio of gas volume
compared to liquid volume
• pH - scale used to measure how corrosive
• Ionizing radiation
– alpha, beta, gamma, neutron
– time, distance, shielding, quantity
Reference Resources
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Emergency Response Guidebook
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
Internet
Farm Safety Handbook by Rick Kubick
MeisterPro Crop Protection Handbook
Jane’s Chem-Bio Handbook
InterNet Search Tools
The Growing Threat of the
Agriculture Workplace
Pacific Avian Influenza Training Workshop
Carter Davis
Pacific EMPRINTS Program
hazmat@hawaii.rr.com