Cl4-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 15, 1994 Personal Protective Equipment Pesticides can enter the body through four common routes -- dermal, inhalation, oral, and through the eyes. Dermal absorption, or movement through the skin is the most common route of pesticide entry into the body. Studies estimate that over 90% of all exposure to pesticides is through skin contact. Inhalation, or breathing the pesticide into the lungs, is more common when using pesticides in a powder or spray formulation. Oral exposure occurs when a pesticide is accidentally splashed into the mouth during mixing or while cleaning equipment. Eye exposure is most common when a pesticide is splashed into the eyes or the eyes are rubbed with hands or clothing contaminated with pesticides. Most exposures to pesticides occur during mixing and loading or returning into areas that have been treated with pesticides. Reducing exposure to pesticides is largely a matter of using common sense. If you are using a pesticide, or will be in an area where pesticides have been applied, wear, at least, the minimum protective clothing prescribed on the label. Minimum protective clothing includes, a long sleeve shirt, long pants or coveralls, gloves, socks and appropriate footwear. Glasses or goggles are not necessanly required as minimum protective clothing; however, they should be worn when there is a chance that pesticides will contaminate the eyes. Specific definitions regarding PPE can be found on pages 82 and 83 of "The Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides -- How to Comply" manual. One of the changes that is a direct result of the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agencies Worker Protection Standard (WPS) regulation is the improvement of pesticide label information with regard to protective clothing requirements. It is estimated that as many as 9,000 product labels are affected by WPS. Each new product label will list the'specific personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn when the product is being used, or when the potential for exposure to the product exists. Even those who are exempt from the WPS must wear the required protective clothing, if the specific protective clothing requirement appears as part of the regular label language, which are the parts of the label other than the "Agricultural Use Requirement" section. When PPE is required under the WPS, the employer must: Provide the PPE to each early-entry worker or handler Clean and maintain PPE Make sure that each person wears and uses the PPE correctly Provide each person a clean place to put on, take off, and store the PPE Take action, if necessary, to prevent heat related illness while PPE is being worn Provide soap, single use towels, and water to each person at the end of the handling activity when PPE is removed; and /A ■■■■■■■■ EPA WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD (WPS) COUNTDOWN TO COMPLIANCE ... AUGUST SEPTEMBER ✓ OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER -» JANUARY 1, 1995 MINIMUM PPE AND WORK CLOTHING FOR PESTICIDE HANDLING ACTI Route of exposure Dermal Toxicity or Skin Irritation Potential Inhalation Toxicity Eye Irritation Potential November's Count Down To Compliance Topic: Pesticide Application Postings & Not • Not allow any person to wear home or take home PPE contaminated, unless proper instruction has been given regarding the washing and care of PPE. The type of PPE necessary depends upon the specific application and the type of application equipment being used. Certain exemptions to PPE requirements are listed on pages 85-87 of "The Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides--How to Comply" manual. Although every pesticide is different and the label should be consulted to determine the PPE requirements for each chemical, the general rules apply for the different pesticide toxicity levels found in the table below. Proper cleaning and maintenance of PPE is just as important as making sure that PPE is available to early-entry workers and handlers. Employers must instruct workers and handlers to: • Keep pesticide-contaminated PPE away from other clothing or laundry, and wash it separately. • If PPE will be reused, clean it before eadh day of reuse according to the instructions from the PPE manufacturer. If instructions are unavailable, wash PPE with detergent in hot water. • Thoroughly wash and dry all PPE before it is reused or stored. Store clean PPE separate from personal clothing and away from pesticide contaminated areas PPE that has been soaked or otherwise heavily contaminated should be discarded. In regard to the proper care of respiratory PPE, employers must: • Replace dust/mist respirator filters: - when breathing becomes difficult. - if the filter is damage or tom. - whenever the respirator manufacturer or pesticide labeling says to replace them. - at the end of each day's work period if no other instructions are available. • Replace gas-and-vapor-removing respirator cartridges or canisters; - at the first sign of odor, taste or irritation. - when the respirator manufacturer or pesticide labeling says to replace them. - at the end of each day's work period if no other instructions are available. Coveralls worn over shortsleeved shirt and short pants Coveralls worn over longsleeved shirt and long pants Socks Socks Chemical-resistant footwear Chemical-resistant footwear Chemical-resistant gloves Chemical-resistant gloves Respiratory protection device Respiratory protection device Protective eyewear Protective eyewear (Turn to Pago Cl 4) Toxicity Category of End-Use Product Longsleeved shirt and long pants Socks Shoes Chemical-resistant gloves No minimum No minimum Longsleei long pant! Socks Shoes No minimi No minii No mi nil
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