1. Working Safely With Pesticides
Pesticides help us protect plants so that they can grow strong and healthy. We depend on pesticides to help us grow most of the fruits and vegetables we eat. But although pesticides are an essential part of modern agriculture, they can also be hazardous unless they are used properly. If you handle pesticides on the job or work in areas where pesticides are used, you need to know the precautions you must take to protect your health and safety.

2. 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
The main objective of this session is to tell you about the hazards posed by pesticide use and to discuss the precautions you need to take. By the time this session is over, you should be able to:
Recognize the hazards and health effects that can result from pesticide use 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; and
Know what to do in an emergency involving exposure to pesticides.

3. 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
During the session, we’ll discuss:
How pesticides enter your body;
OSHA and EPA regulations;
Training requirements;
Labels and warnings;
Entry restrictions and trained entry;
Pesticide application equipment; and
PPE, hygiene, and first aid.

4. What Are Pesticides? Toxic chemical compounds
Protect plants from insects
Can be toxic to workers who apply the pesticides
Before we talk about pesticide hazards and precautions, let’s define what we mean when we use the word “pesticides.”
Pesticides are strong toxic chemical compounds. Toxic means poisonous.
Pesticides need to be toxic in order to kill harmful insects so that plants can be healthy and grow well.
Unfortunately, because pesticides are toxic, they are dangerous to people as well as insects. To be safe, everyone who works with or around pesticides must take proper precautions to prevent harmful exposures.

5. How Are Pesticides Regulated?
OSHA (29 CFR )
EPA (40 CFR 170)
Pesticides are regulated both by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, also called EPA.
The use of pesticides in general industry is covered by OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard. The Hazard Communication Standard requires us to tell you about the hazards of chemicals you work with and how to work safely to avoid harmful exposures.
Pesticide use is also regulated by EPA’s Worker Protection Standard. These regulations cover workers at any farm, forest, nursery, and greenhouse. The Worker Protection Standard requires us to provide you with training and safeguards such as warnings, restrictions, and personal protective equipment to protect your health on the job.

6. Which Jobs Are Covered? Hand labor Mixing or applying pesticides
Working with pesticide equipment
Disposing of pesticides
Working in pesticide application areas
EPA regulations require us to protect you if your job involves:
Hand labor, including harvesting, weeding, or packing containers;
Mixing or applying pesticides;
Cleaning, loading, or repairing pesticide equipment;
Disposing of pesticides or pesticide containers; or
Working in enclosed areas after pesticides are applied.

7. How Can Pesticides Enter Your Body?
Eye contact
Skin contact
Inhalation
Swallowing
Sensitization
Pesticides can be very harmful to your health if they get onto or into your body. This can happen in a variety of ways.
Pesticide liquid sprays or pesticide dust can get into your eyes, especially if there is a wind. Wind causes pesticides to drift from one work area to another during application.
Pesticides can also get on your skin and enter your body that way.
Or you could breathe in pesticide sprays or dust. This is probably the easiest way for pesticides to enter your body if you’re not wearing proper protection—especially during pesticide application.
Although no one would knowingly swallow pesticides, this can happen by accident. For example, if you have pesticides on your hands and you eat, drink, or smoke—or even just wipe your mouth with contaminated hands—small amounts of pesticides can get into your body that way.
Another way your body could be affected by pesticide exposure is called “sensitization.” With sensitization, exposures don’t cause any health problems at first. But over time, you become more and more sensitive to smaller amounts of pesticide. Eventually, the slightest exposure will cause a reaction such as a headache or rash.

8. 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
Once pesticides get onto or into your body, they can be hazardous to your health. You could suffer various health effects from minor to very serious illness.
For example, pesticides can irritate your eyes and in some cases cause blindness.
Skin can easily be irritated by contact, and skin contact could also cause a rash.
Breathing or swallowing pesticides could cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, or fatigue.
If a pesticide is very toxic or if you inhale a lot of it, it could damage your nose, throat or lungs. Ingestion, or swallowing, of pesticides can result in damage to your stomach, liver, or other organs.
Early symptoms of pesticide poisoning include irritation, nervousness, and diarrhea.
More severe poisoning can cause fever, convulsions, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, and even death.
Do you know what you should do if you feel any of these symptoms while working with or around pesticides?
Image Credit: EPA

9. Who Needs Training? Agricultural workers Pesticide Handlers
According to EPA’s Worker Protection Standard, both agricultural workers and pesticide handlers must be trained to recognize the hazards and take proper precautions to prevent exposures.
The regulations define agricultural workers as those who harvest, weed, or water agricultural plants.
Pesticide handlers are defined as those who:
Mix, load, apply, or transport pesticides;
Assist with applications, including the incorporation of the pesticide into the soil after application has occurred;
Act as flaggers;
Handle equipment that may contain pesticide residues;
Handle open pesticide containers, or dispose of them;
Act as crop advisors; or
Enter a greenhouse after application of pesticides and before the permissible inhalation exposure level has been reached.
Image Credit: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

10. General Training Requirements
Pesticide hazards
Routes of exposure
Symptoms of pesticide poisoning
According to the regulations, training for both agricultural workers and pesticide handlers must include:
Hazards of pesticides and health effects of exposure;
How pesticides can enter the body; and
Symptoms of pesticide exposure.
Let’s continue to the next slide to view more general training requirements.

11. General Training Requirements (cont.)
Emergency first aid and how to obtain medical care
Decontamination procedures
Warnings about taking pesticides home
The regulations also require workers and handlers to be trained in:
Emergency first aid for pesticide poisoning and how to obtain emergency medical care;
Routine and emergency decontamination procedures, including eye flushing techniques; and
Warnings about taking pesticides or pesticide containers home.

12. 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
Special training requirements for agricultural workers include:
Where and in what form pesticides might be encountered during work activities;
Hazards of pesticide drift created by wind during pesticide applications;
Hazards from pesticide residue on clothing, including the need to wash work clothes separately from other laundry; and
An explanation of Worker Protection Standard requirements designed to protect workers, including application and entry restrictions, warning signs, and availability of information about pesticide applications.
Do you know where and in what form pesticides might be encountered in your job?

13. 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
Special requirements for training for pesticide handlers include:
Format and meaning of information on pesticide labels, including health hazard warnings;
Need for and appropriate use of personal protective equipment, or PPE;
Prevention, recognition, and first-aid for heat-related illness;
Safety requirements for handling, transporting, storing, mixing, and disposing of pesticides, including general procedures for spill cleanup;
Environmental concerns such as drift, runoff, and wildlife hazards; and
Understanding how to apply pesticides to avoid exposure of agricultural workers and other people in the area.
Do you know all the safety requirements for handling, transporting, storing, mixing, and disposing of pesticides, including general procedures for spill cleanup?

14. Container Labels Name of pesticide Manufacturer Hazards
How to use it safely
Both OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard and EPA’s pesticide regulations require manufacturers to properly label pesticide containers. Labels contain essential safety and health information, so always read the container label before using any pesticide. The label will tell you:
The trade name of the pesticide and often the chemical or scientific names of the different components;
The name of the manufacturer, often including an address, phone number, and even a website;
Specific hazards associated with the pesticide as well as how it can enter your body and symptoms of exposure; and
Basic information about how to safely work with the pesticide such as recommended PPE, ventilation requirements, hygiene practices, first aid, and so forth.
Now let’s go on to the next slide to learn more about the information on pesticide container labels.

15. Container Labels (cont.)
Skull and crossbones
Danger or Warning
Restricted entry interval
SDS
The most dangerous pesticides have a picture of a skull and crossbones to warn you that they are poisonous and should be handled with caution.
Pesticide labels will also warn you about the degree of risk in big, bold letters—for example, “DANGER” or “WARNING.” Most labels will give warnings in both English and Spanish. For example, a label might say Danger (Peligro) or Warning (Aviso).
Labels will also list the restricted entry interval, which is the length of time you have to stay out of an area after pesticides have been applied. We’ll talk more about entry restrictions later in the session.
Finally, if the container label does not provide enough information, you can refer to the safety data sheet or SDS, for the pesticide to find out more detailed safety and health information.
Think about the safety and health information on pesticide container labels and how this knowledge can help protect you on the job.

16. Warning Signs Protect people working near pesticides
Danger, Pesticides, Keep Out
Frowning face and upraised arms
Pesticide name and date applied
The regulations require that warning signs be posted to identify areas that have been treated with pesticides. These signs are primarily designed to protect people who work near pesticides but do not apply them.
The signs are easy to recognize. They say, in English and Spanish, Danger (Peligro), Pesticides (Pesticidas), Keep Out (No Entre).
Warning signs also have a circle that contains a frowning face and an upraised hand meaning “No.”
Some signs also include the name of the pesticide and the date it was applied.
Let’s go on to the next slide for more information about warning signs.
Image Credit: EPA

17. 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
Warning signs are found in places where they are easy to see on your normal path to work.
They have to be big and clear enough to read, so you can’t miss them. Be sure to read them before proceeding.
Warning signs are put up before pesticides are applied, and they are removed after the restricted entry period ends.
Think about the information on warning signs and how it helps protect you on the job.

18. Spoken Warnings Before pesticide applied Before your shift
Which areas treated
Time before entering area
In addition to warning signs, you will also receive a spoken warning before pesticides are applied.
If a pesticide was applied before your work shift, you’ll receive the spoken warning before starting your first shift after the pesticide application.
You’ll learn what area was treated.
And you’ll find out how long you have to wait before you can go into that area. This waiting period is the restricted entry interval we spoke about earlier.
Image Credit: Univ. of FL/IFAS Pesticide Information Office

19. Pesticide Safety Posters
Obey warning signs
Don’t touch or inhale pesticides
Pay attention to hygiene
Wear protective clothing
Do not smoke
Follow decontamination procedures after work
Everyone who works with or around pesticides should be sure to read our pesticide safety poster. It provides important safety tips about pesticides such as:
Obey warnings to keep out of treated or restricted areas;
Be careful not to touch or inhale pesticides on plants or in soil, in irrigation water, or drifting through the air;
Pay attention to hygiene and wash before eating, drinking, chewing gum or tobacco, smoking, or using the toilet;
Wear work clothes designed to protect your body from pesticides;
If pesticides are in the air, do not smoke; and
Wash or shower with soap and water, shampoo your hair after work, and then put on clean clothes.
Think about the information on the pesticide safety poster and how it helps you protect your health.

20. Pesticide Safety Information
Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides?
Now it’s time to ask yourself if you understand the information presented so far? Do you understand what we’ve discussed about how pesticides can be hazardous? Do you understand the information about pesticide safety training and warnings?
Your safety on the job depends on your understanding of all this information.
Now let’s continue to the next slide where we’ll talk about entry restrictions into areas where pesticides are applied.

21. 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
Entry restrictions apply to areas being treated with pesticides. During pesticide applications, only trained and equipped pesticide handlers are allowed to enter the area.
Agricultural workers and other people must stay well clear of the area. This means at least 100 feet in all directions when pesticides are applied aerially; in an upward direction; using a spray pressure greater than 150 psi; or as a fumigant, smoke, mist, fog, or aerosol. Workers must keep at least 25 feet away from application areas when pesticides are applied downward using a height of greater than 12 inches from the plants, a fine spray, or a spray under pressure less than 150 psi.
Restricted entry can last 12 to 72 hours, depending on the type of pesticide used.
Refer to the container label for information such as the distance to stay away from the treated area and the length of time for the restricted entry interval.
When pesticide is applied in a greenhouse, there must be sufficient air changes or ventilation to reduce airborne concentrations. This means we have to measure pesticide levels in the air, and workers have to stay out until levels are safe. These safe levels are also listed on the container label.

22. Trained Entry Safe air, touch nothing Safe air, brief tasks
Agricultural emergency
Exception from EPA
The EPA regulations do make some exceptions to the entry restriction rules. Properly trained and equipped workers are allowed into restricted areas under the following circumstances:
The level of pesticide in the air is no longer dangerous, and you will not contact soil, water, air, plants, or anything treated with pesticide;
The pesticide was applied at least 4 hours before, tests or measurements show that the level of air is no longer dangerous, and entry is for a brief task that does not involve hand labor;
There is an agricultural emergency that will lead to crop damage, causing major economic loss; or
We get an exception from EPA by explaining that entry is the only way to handle a situation and that all required worker protections will be in place.
Remember, entry into a treated area is hazardous before the end of the restricted entry interval. Never enter an area unless you are properly trained and equipped and have been authorized by a supervisor.

23. 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
Only trained handlers are allowed to use pesticide equipment. If you mix, load, transfer, and apply pesticides, you must know how to use equipment safely.
Inspect equipment before each use. Look for leaks, clogs, and worn or damaged parts. Never use defective equipment.
Someone must keep in sight or voice contact at least every 2 hours with anyone handling pesticides labeled with a skull and crossbones. And handlers applying pesticides or monitoring air levels in a greenhouse must keep in constant voice or visual contact.
Labeling information should be kept accessible when handling pesticides and using pesticide equipment.
And finally, remember that pesticides contaminate the equipment as well, so if you touch equipment without proper protection, you are at risk. Do not clean, repair, or make adjustments to pesticide equipment unless you are properly trained and wearing appropriate PPE.
Think about operating procedures for any pesticide equipment you use.

24. PPE Chemical-resistant clothing Chemical-resistant gloves Glove liners
Foot protection
PPE is essential for both handlers and agricultural workers to reduce the risk of pesticide exposure when working with or around pesticides. We will provide any necessary PPE. The type of PPE required will be determined by the toxicity of the pesticide, how it could enter your body, and what job you are doing. The container label and SDS will provide you with specific information about required PPE.
Chemical-resistant clothing may be required for some jobs involving handling of pesticides. Other work may require only coveralls or aprons worn over work clothes.
Chemical-resistant gloves may also be necessary, such as nitrile or latex gloves. Leather gloves are not good protection against chemicals. Leather gloves may, however, be worn over chemical-resistant liner gloves. Do not use contaminated leather gloves for any other purpose.
Used glove liners must be discarded after 10 hours of use or within 24 hours of when first put on, whichever comes first.
Chemical-resistant shoes or boots may be needed for some work—especially when applying pesticides or walking through recently treated areas.

25. PPE (cont.) Eye and face protection Hat with brim or hood Respirator
Protective eyewear, such as goggles, is generally required when handling pesticides. A face shield might also be required for jobs such as mixing or applying pesticides where pesticides could splash up in your face.
A chemical-resistant wide-brim hat or hood protects your head from overspray or drift when applying pesticides.
And a respirator may also be necessary—especially when applying pesticides or when it’s necessary to enter a restricted area.
Think about the PPE you are required to wear in your job and how it protects you from harmful exposure to pesticides.

26. Inspect PPE Inspect before each use Look for holes, tears, worn areas
Replace damaged PPE
Make sure PPE fits properly
To be sure your PPE and protective clothing protect you adequately from pesticide hazards, you must inspect it before each use.
Look for holes, tears, worn areas, or other damage.
Be sure to replace worn or damaged PPE right away, because it won’t adequately protect you from pesticide hazards.
Also be sure that your PPE fits properly. A good fit is essential to keep out harmful chemicals. This is especially true for respirators. Be sure to have a fit test to make sure your respirator will keep out pesticides. If the fit is loose or there are gaps between the respirator and your face, harmful chemicals could get in and you would inhale them, which could make you sick.
What do you look for when you inspect your PPE? Do you always perform an inspection before each use?

27. 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
To make sure PPE protects you properly, you also have to care for it correctly.
After working with pesticides, your PPE and protective clothing will be contaminated. Remove it very carefully in the designated area. Never wear PPE or protective clothing home. Take PPE and clothing off from the top down with your gloves still on. Do not touch contaminated items with your bare hands.
Clean reusable PPE such as goggles, boots, and some types of gloves and protective clothing.
Do not launder potentially contaminated work clothes with other laundry.
Store PPE separately from your other clothes, even if the PPE is clean and dry.
Do not take PPE or other potentially contaminated items home. You could contaminate your home and family that way.

28. Good Hygiene Wash after every task is completed
Use soap, water, and paper towels
Carry eye flush bottle
Special cleanup areas will be provided
Good hygiene is essential when you work with or around pesticides.
Wash every time you complete a job or task associated with pesticide use.
Use soap and water when you wash, and then dry your hands with paper towels. Make sure you dispose of used paper towels properly.
If you work with pesticides that require you to wear protective eyewear, you must carry a bottle of eye flush water or be able to get to an emergency flushing area quickly and easily.
We will provide special eye flushing and cleanup areas for anyone who contacts something treated with pesticides. These wash areas will be within a quarter mile of the work area. They will contain enough clean water for routine washing as well as emergency eye flushing.
Do you always follow safe hygiene rules to prevent contamination with pesticides?

29. First Aid Eyes—flush with water Skin—wash with soap and water
Inhalation—move to fresh air
Finally, you should know basic first-aid procedures in case of pesticide exposure. The container label and SDS will provide more specific first-aid information.
If pesticides get into your eyes, you need to flush them with water right away. Use your flush bottle or go immediately to an eye flushing station. Hold your lids open, and flush for about 15 minutes.
If pesticides get on your skin, wash the area with soap and water immediately. Remove any clothing that was contaminated as well. If you keep the clothing on, it will remain against your skin and cause further damage.
If you begin to feel the symptoms associated with inhaling pesticides—headache, dizziness, or nausea—get away from that work area immediately and get into some fresh air.

30. First Aid (cont.) Swallowing—get emergency medical assistance
Follow up first aid with medical evaluation
If you accidentally swallow pesticides, call for emergency assistance right away. Check the label for first-aid treatment until help arrives. First-aid treatment for swallowing pesticides may vary depending on the chemicals in the pesticide.
After completing emergency first-aid procedures, be sure to follow up with a medical evaluation—even if you feel OK. The pesticide poster will provide the name, location, and phone number of the nearest emergency medical care center.
Are you sufficiently familiar with basic first-aid procedures so that you could effectively handle an emergency—whether it happened to you or a coworker?

31. Working Safely with Pesticides
Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides?
Now it’s time to ask yourself if you understand the information that has been presented in the previous slides. Do you understand what we’ve discussed about entry restrictions, equipment, PPE, hygiene, and first aid?
It’s important that you understand all this information so that you can use it on the job to protect your health and safety.
Now let’s conclude the session with some key points to remember.

32. 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
Here are the main points to remember from this session on pesticide safety:
Understand pesticide hazards;
Read container labels and heed warning signs and oral warnings;
Stay out of restricted areas unless you are properly trained and equipped;
Use pesticide application equipment properly;
Wear required PPE and practice good hygiene; and
Know what to do in an emergency.
This concludes the Working Safely with Pesticides training session.