Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
1 of 28
2.
Handle crop protection products carefully at all times to avoid contact or contamination
Maintain sprayers well, fixing, for example, any leaks before starting an application. Practice good personal hygiene
3.
4.
5.
Use appropriate protective clothing as last line of defence and not to become careless and increase exposure risks.
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
2 of 28
Always fix leaking sprayers before use. Use nozzles that produce largest drop size advised by label. (Equipment that produce finer droplets are more likely to cause contamination) Higher water volume rates are inherently safer than those more concentrated. Use within label stated ranges. Use spraying equipment that meets the FAO recommended specifications. Always direct the spraying nozzle downwind.
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
3 of 28
Exposure Studies
Most operator contamination is likely during the mixing process and if using leaking application equipment. Most contamination during spraying was on the hands, due to leaking trigger assemblies.
Study of Malathion use in greenhouse tomatoes K. MACHERA1, M. GOUMENOU, E. KAPETANAKIS, A. KALAMARAKIS and C. R. GLASS Pesticide Outlook 2002 edited Professor G Matthews
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
4 of 28
Product absorption rates through bare skin of operators will vary with location on body and the condition of the skin. Scratches and sores absorb more product than unbroken skin. Studies identify not just how much exposure is likely but where, too.
Location on body Forearm Palm of hands Ball of foot Abdomen Scalp Forehead Ear canal Genitalia
Relative absorption through bare skin: % 8.6 11.8 13.5 18.4 32.1 36.3 46.5 100
Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension In general - where skin is thinner and where that area has major blood supplies then the greater the rate of absorption.
www.stewardshipcommunity.com 5 of 28
Every product label will identify the protective equipment requirements for both measuring/mixing as well as for application. This information is shown as pictograms to help total understanding by all product users, and is grouped into the following activities.
Mixing liquids
Mixing solids
Application
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
6 of 28
Use boots
Use respirator
Use coverall
7 of 28
Harmful
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
8 of 28
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
9 of 28
Always store protective equipment separately from crop protection products. Wash gloves, aprons, boots and face shields after use. Wash spray clothing separately from domestic washing. Change respirator filters following the manufacturers guidelines.
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
10 of 28
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
11 of 28
Use plastic bags to replace gloves. Use these once. Dispose following best practice. Apron can be made out of a heavy duty plastic sack. Visor can be made out of an empty clear plastic drinks bottle and string.
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
12 of 28
Standard (minimal) PPE for body protection when spraying diluted products Order of preference from least to preferred:
Work Clothes consisting of long sleeved shirt and long trousers or Work Clothes as above but used only for pesticide application or 2 piece suit specifically designed for use as PPE or Coverall specifically designed for use as PPE
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
Least
Better
Preferred
Preferred
13 of 28
Water soluble bags Low acute tox/irritation Closed transfer system Small quantities handled
Factors increasing risks: High acute toxicity/irritation Solvent based formulations High vapour pressure Poor equipment choice/use Inappropriate container size/type
Care should be taken to avoid contamination of the driving cab. Take off potentially contaminated clothing and equipment before getting in the cab. The sprayer should be fitted with compartments to seperately store contaminated and non contaminated clothing and equipment. Modern sprayers are normally fitted with a clean water supply to permit washing of gloves and hands.
Note also: Sprayers often fitted with low level induction bowls for product loading safety. Sprayers often have remote controls such as on/off, hydraulic lift and fold in part to reduce operator expposure. Nozzles often bayonet fitted to multi holder systems to reduce exposure time when making changes to them.
PPE requirements may be different for knapsack sprayer operators!
www.stewardshipcommunity.com 16 of 28
Remember
During mixing and loading, your hands are at highest risk for contamination Always follow label recommendations
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
17 of 28
Remember
Most common route of exposure is through the skin Always follow label recommendations
www.stewardshipcommunity.com 18 of 28
Remember
Clean equipment preferably in an unsprayed area of the field just treated Make sure that streams and water courses are not contaminated Never pour pesticides or washings into sewers, drains, ditches or rivers Always follow label recommendations
www.stewardshipcommunity.com 19 of 28
Gloves made of nitrile, rubber or Neoprene are suited for most crop protection products. Natural rubber gloves do not provide sufficient protection. When used with solvents such as those in emulsifiable concentrates (ECs) they become damaged. Leather, or any other absorbent, gloves are not suitable
Remember
Gloves must be worn at mixing and loading or applying granules by hand Always wash gloves before taking them off Replace gloves regularly
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
20 of 28
Two (2) piece suits, e.g. long-sleeved shirt and long trousers are generally more comfortable than coveralls in tropical agricultural use conditions Use suits which allow easy movement and good air circulation Ensure pockets have cover flaps to avoid spray drops/liquid entering and accumulating Buttons or zips must be covered by flaps Sleeves and legs should have adjustable closures continued.
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
21 of 28
The textile used should be air permeable Cotton or polyester/cotton blends are appropriate for most conditions of use The heavier the fabric, the better inherent protection properties For woven fabrics, twills are preferable to plain weave Stitches should be firm and dense to avoid penetration of spray drops/liquids ..continued
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
22 of 28
Wash coverall / 2 piece suit regularly, separate from family washing Strictly follow washing instructions of the manufacturer to maintain protection properties Limited use PPE must be replaced regularly as indicated by the manufacturer
Note: Exposed, unprotected skin poses highest risk when applying crop protecting chemicals Using safe knapsack sprayers after loading the product then the lower parts of the body [arms, legs, chest and abdomen] present the highest potential for exposure
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
23 of 28
Always wash gloves and hands before removing dust masks and respirators. Make sure you select the appropriate respiratory protector to meet any hazards described on the products label. Several recognised standards govern respiratory protectors:
The outer packaging should describe the designed uses. Respirators fitted with replaceable filter canisters. Check that the fitted filters are suitable. Change dust masks and filters in line with the manufacturers specifications or sooner or if the item becomes contaminated
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
24 of 28
Removal of PPE
When removing PPE when wearing gloves, always wash the gloves before starting. Remove all articles of PPE before finally removing the gloves.
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
25 of 28
Further reading
http://www.croplife.org/library/attachments/eeb6a978-fff5-4ff2-bd75dd8b8068f123/6/Guidelines-for-personal-protection-when-using-crop-protectionproducts-in-hot-climates%20-Oct-2004.pdf http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PI008 http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ageng/safety/ae1107w.htm#respiratory http://www.protectepi.com.br/_ing/ http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/47/1/61
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
26 of 28
Trainer notes
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Have examples of PPE to demonstrate. Have examples of product labels with contrasting PPE needs. Demonstrate removing gloves without contaminating the skin. Demonstrate the manufacture of a face shield from a PET bottle. Make an apron from a fertiliser sack Consider demonstrations using a water solution of a safe [food additive] dye and a leaking knapsack sprayer - to show where spray gets onto operator [wearing a white coverall and white linen gloves]. Or use UV tracer.
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
27 of 28
Questions
1. Explain the meanings of the WHO pictograms. 2. What are the basic requirements when the nozzle is spraying below waist height. 3. What steps can be taken to reduce the risk of product exposure when a) mixing and loading b) when using a hand held sprayer. 4. What aspects of spraying increase the risk of contamination and often require extra PPE?
www.stewardshipcommunity.com
28 of 28