Safety Advice Article
Headline: Dress for Success When Applying Pesticides
Byline: Canadian Agricultural Safety Association
Word Count: 864
With the planting season upon us, pesticides will be part of the arsenal of tools used to prepare for and
maintain the impressive patchwork of golden wheat, creamy oats, mustard canola, and azure flax across the
prairies. But keeping various pests at bay often requires handling chemicals, so the right mix of safe handling
practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed in order to get the job done, while maintaining
the health and safety of those applying or coming into contact with pest control products.
All pesticides are not created equally. Different pesticides require different PPE depending on the formulation
and type of potential exposure. Start by reading the pesticide label. Do you require a chemically-resistant apron
or suit, impervious footwear, gloves, headgear, eye protection, or respirator? What about work clothes such as
a long-sleeved shirt or pants? While chemical exposure most commonly occurs on the hands and forearms,
pesticides can enter the body through the skin, mouth, eyes and nose. As well, moist areas of the body—
including the eyes, groin, armpits, and ear canals—are particularly absorptive. So PPE must protect all body
parts at risk of exposure depending on the task and toxicity level of the product.
What PPE is required will also differ depending on the task being performed. Will you be mixing pesticides,
loading, applying, performing clean-up operations or entering a treated area? If you are applying a pesticide,
what is the method of application? Will you be using a handheld or mechanized sprayer? Is the formula in liquid
or dry form? The pesticide label will address all of these factors when prescribing the appropriate PPE.
When reading a pesticide label, look for one of three signal words to help you understand the exposure risks
associated with the product: Caution, Warning and Danger. Caution indicates that the product is slightly toxic
when exposed to the skin, lungs, eyes, or mouth. Warning indicates that contact with at least one of these
areas is moderately toxic, while Danger indicates that the product is highly toxic when expose occurs via the
skin, lungs, eyes, or mouth. If you aren’t sure you have the right PPE for the pesticide, contact your provincial
government or the manufacturer of either the pesticide or PPE for clarification. If you are unsure, don’t apply it.
Once you have selected your PPE, it is important that it is worn and used properly. Special googles are often
required to prevent eye exposure. When clothing meets protective footwear or gloves, it’s important to ensure
appropriate overlap of PPE to prevent chemicals from coming into contact with your legs, arms or feet.
Respirators must be fit tested before they are used for the first time, and checked annually unless your weight
or other facial features change significantly between fit tests. As well, a seal check must be performed every
time you don a respirator to ensure a good seal between skin and respirator.
Discomfort, particularly from heat exposure, is never a reason to remove PPE. Instead, work when it is cool,
take frequent breaks, drink lots of water, or find other alternatives to reduce discomfort. If all else fails, quit for
the day. Removing your PPE before the job is done is not safe and not worth the risk.
Like all clothes, PPE is susceptible to wear and tear. Check all PPE for signs of wear and tear on a regular
basis, discarding anything that may compromise your protection. Replace and dispose of any PPE or PPE
components according to product instructions.
Don’t linger in your PPE. Remove it as soon as you have completed your task. Wash disposable or reusable
gloves with soap and water, remove other PPE with your gloves still on, and then wash your gloves again
before removing them. Wash PPE separately from other laundry using detergent and hot water. Store your
PPE according to usage instructions. This often includes protecting PPE from chemicals, sunlight, extreme
temperatures, high humidity and moisture. And, never store PPE with other personal clothing or near
pesticides.
Employers are required to follow the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), the Pest
Control Products Act, as well as any applicable provincial occupational health and safety laws. If you employ
workers, you are responsible for providing them with information about the pesticides they are using, the
required PPE for the task at hand, appropriate training in the use of that PPE, and immediate transportation to
a medical facility in the event of pesticide exposure. Additionally, you are required to ensure their PPE fits
properly, and that it is correctly cleaned, maintained, replaced and stored.
When it comes to pesticides, the label is the law, so it is essential that you read, understand and follow the
instructions and requirements for the use, safety and handling of all pesticide products. It will protect you, and
your workers, from unnecessary exposure while maximizing the potential of those fields of wheat, oats, canola,
flax, or other crops. For more information on safe PPE use, download the “Dress for Success” brochure or
watch the video, produced as part of a partnership between Syngenta and the Canadian Agricultural Safety
Association. These materials can be found at: casa-acsa.ca/dressforsuccess or www.syngenta.ca/stewardship.
Photo Cutline:
May2014_DressforSuccess_spraying.jpg (Credit: Syngenta Canada)
When it comes to pesticides, the label is the law, so it is essential that you read, understand and follow the
instructions and requirements for the use, safety and handling of all pesticide products.