Suitable Types of PPE for Protection against Pesticide Exposure

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture, forestry, and other industries to control pests and diseases. However, exposure to pesticides can have serious health effects, including skin irritation, respiratory problems, and even cancer. Therefore, it is important for workers who handle pesticides to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize their risk of exposure. In this article, we will explore the various types of PPE that are suitable for exposure to pesticides and the factors that should be taken into consideration when selecting and using PPE.

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Pesticides are very useful in many different environments, but these chemicals also harm humans. Each type of pesticide will have different chemical formulas and ingredients, so the amount of toxins will also be different, but the common point is that they will be harmful to the health of the person who comes into contact with them for a long time.

Pesticides penetrate the human body by contacting the skin, eyes, mouth, and airways. The consequences of pesticides on the body are tremendous, from nausea, headache, and skin irritation to cancer, including lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s leukemia.

With such serious consequences, workers who are exposed to pesticides should take appropriate preventive measures. Ideally, it is the protective clothing and personal protection equipment (PPE) with the most economical, feasible, and easy-to-use properties. Besides, it must give users a sense of comfort and efficiency while wearing their clothes.

The types of protection equipment necessary for workers to come into contact with chemicals

• Clothes against chemicals
• A chemical room mask
• Protective hands
• Protective boots

Understand your level of risk when working with pesticides

Understand the danger of the pesticide that you will come into contact with quite a lot. Often, pesticide products always have a component table for workers to know the ingredients in the pesticide. In addition, depending on the pesticide, there will be notes on the packaging. Eg

Nota bene: slightly toxic; a lethal dose for 150 average human pounds ranges from 1 spoon to 1 pink.

Warning: Moderately toxic; a lethal dose for a 150-pound person ranges from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon.

Danger: high toxicity; a deadly dose for 150 regular lbs of people from only a few drops to 1 teaspoon (usually printed with a skull and diagonal bone and the word “Poison” on the label).

If the product requires the use of PPE, please fully equip workers because the danger of the product is greater, and the more necessary the use of PPE. And the type of PPE used also depends on the composition of pesticides.

Clothes against chemicals

The fabrics used for protective clothing sewing must be based on strict standards. Protective clothing is divided into two types: clothing for toxic chemicals and clothing for non-toxic chemicals.

Toxic chemical clothing

It is usually sewn with high quality Tyvek fabric or rubber coated vinyl fabric. High-grade Tyvek fabric has effective reverse osmosis, water resistance, and chemical resistance. This fabric has a great ability to help users resist harmful chemicals, but can allow perspiration to perspire to the outside to create ventilation for the wearer.

In addition, Tyvek fabric is also resistant to the penetration of microorganisms and has high durability and impact resistance, so it is extremely convenient for users.

Rubber-coated vinyl fabric is made of virgin plastic, so it has toughness, good bearing capacity, and is extremely durable over time. In addition to being resistant to harmful chemicals, vinyl fabrics are extremely easy to clean, and most users do not need to spend too much time taking care of them. This is also the most commonly used fabric in the protective clothing industry.

Fabrics for protective clothing for the non-toxic chemical industry

With non-toxic chemicals, businesses often prioritize fabrics with good absorbency, high durability, anti-fouling ability, and beautiful designs, such as Korean pangrim fabric and joint-venture khaki fabric.

Korean pangrim fabric is a fabric with beautiful material and good breathability. Besides, this fabric is also anti-fouling, making it suitable for many active environments.

The khaki fabric is a fabric with outstanding durability because the fibers are tightly bonded together. This is a fairly popular fabric because of the durability and comfort it creates for the wearer. The fabric is anti-hair loss and does not get secreted even when used in summer.

Protective hands

Chemical-resistant gloves are usually made of rubber cloth made from neoprene fabric to ensure safety for people exposed to toxic chemicals for a long time. They have the effect of protecting the skin of the hands against agents such as nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc.

Depending on the needs of the user, there are disposable gloves and multi-use gloves. Single-use gloves are usually made from natural rubber and are used in medical and laboratory settings.

Protective boots

Like chemical resistant gloves, chemical resistant boots are also commonly manufactured from synthetic rubber and do not have single-use protective boots. Protective boots need to ensure the user good chemical resistance, smoothness, and good breathability to be able to protect the user’s foot skin in a chemical environment. Comfort must also be ensured to be able to be used for work that requires a lot of movement.

Eye protection

Eyes also need to be absolutely protected when exposed to chemical environments. Your eyes can be protected by wearing goggles, face shields, or safety glasses. If you use a face shield or safety goggles,

Make sure it is combined with a negative pressure respirator and possibly a dust mask. It is recommended to wear safety glasses that fit properly so that toxic gases cannot pass through.

Standards for evaluating the safety of protective equipment

To be able to assess whether protective equipment is safe enough to be used in a chemical environment, it is also necessary to be based on strict criteria for evaluation because chemicals are a toxic and harmful environment for the health of the person in contact.

First, it is essential that protective equipment can withstand low levels of chemical liquids, even in hazardous chemical environments or non-toxic chemical environments.

In a chemical environment, it is extremely dangerous to wear protective gear that does not guarantee waterproofing. It can cause workers to suffer skin damage, and sometimes toxic chemicals will penetrate the epidermis and into the bloodstream, causing harm to health.

The size of the protective equipment is also a consideration. Workers cannot wear clothing that is too tight because it will create difficulties when moving, and if it is too loose, it can cause problems when working. We need to ensure the right fit of protective equipment so that workers can get the best work efficiency.

It is necessary to ensure that the quality of the goggles is good and not easily damaged. Since toxic chemicals cannot be in liquid form and are in gaseous form, it is very dangerous if toxic chemicals accidentally get into the eyes of workers.

And it’s even more dangerous if it’s a chemical liquid that accidentally gets into the goggles. It is advisable to ensure that the worker’s safety goggles are good enough to withstand hazardous chemical liquids without being damaged.

Gloves and protective boots must also be made of high-quality rubber and not easily damaged. The protection of gloves and boots is essential for workers. If workers use pesticides for a long time without using gloves, the skin of their hands will be severely damaged.

In some cases, the hands of people use pesticides for a long time without wearing gloves. The gloves will be completely destroyed. Therefore, the use of standard protective gloves and boots is extremely necessary.

Final words

PPE is essential for workers in chemical environments, and it would be a disaster if PPE could not be safe for users. Make sure the PPE you use is made from the best fabric, and your health will be guaranteed.

In conclusion, selecting the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical for minimizing the risk of exposure to pesticides. The type of PPE required will depend on the level and duration of exposure, the toxicity of the pesticide, and the tasks being performed. It is important to properly train workers on the correct use and maintenance of PPE, and to regularly inspect and replace damaged or worn out equipment. By taking these precautions, workers can help protect themselves from the harmful effects of pesticide exposure and ensure a safer and healthier work environment.