Protective clothing minimizing exposure risk

Re-entry into treated fields and required posting Protective clothing and equipment and its care and maintenance Pesticide poisoning effects, symptoms, and first aid Medical supervision for pesticide applicators Toxicity of pesticides Minimizing exposure Risk assessment Personal safety and hygiene Types of spray equipment Equipment parts, with emphasis on nozzles Sprayer maintenance and cleaning Sprayer storage... 

A highly toxic chemical (e.g., a pesticide) may be used without causing harmful effect if it is handled with care and caution. Exposure to pesticides can be minimized by wearing protective clothing and equipment and by learning to handle pesticides carefully. If the exposure to the pesticide is low or even nil, the risk is reduced, even when handling highly toxic pesticides. 

There are only two ways to minimize any risk of harm minimize the exposure or minimize the hazard. Minimizing the exposure of persons who handle the substances can be done through various means, such as protective clothing, engineering controls, respirators, and the like. However, by designing chemistry that reduces or eliminates the hazard, exposure is no longer a risk. 

Dermal (skin) absorption is a significant hazard for a number of volatile substances. These include aromatic compounds such as benzene and toluene nitro-compounds such as nitrobenzene, trinitrotoluene and nitro-propane several insecticides and herbicides hydrogen cyanide and organo phosphates. Protective clothing can minimize risks except where splashing and adsoprtion into cloth concentrates exposure to the skin. 

Risks to persons or to the environment must be minimized by adherence to safety legislation and protocols, e.g., Occupational Health and Safety (COSSH in the UK), which informs on health risks associated with specific chemicals and appropriate medical and cleanup procedures in the event of exposure or a spillage. Before undertaking field work, a site-specific risk assessment should be carried out to identify potential risks and specify safe practices. Important issues include transport of persoimel and equipment, weather conditions, possible health risks from the sample and the general environment, appropriate protective clothing, safe onsite working practices, safe use of equipment, communications, and emergency procedures. 

Q Implement appropriate controls to prevent exposure. Preventing exposru e to isocyanates is a critical step in eliminating the health hazard. Engineering controls such as closed systems and ventilation should be the principal method for minimizing isocyanate exposvu e in the workplace. Other controls, such as worker isolation and use of personal protective equipment such as respirators and personal protective clothing to prevent dermal exposures may also be necessary. Early recognition of sensitization and prompt and strict elimination of exposures is essential to reduce the risk of long-term or permanent respiratory problems for workers who have become sensitized. 

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