Protective gear is more than fashionable, it's life-saving

By Jennifer M. Latzke

Let's face it, farmers aren't known for their fashion and design sense. Chances are you won't see a Texas cotton farmer strutting his stuff on the runways of Milan, and likewise, you probably won't see a Kansas soybean grower on a home design television show.

But, when it comes to matters of safety in handling agricultural chemicals, fashion and design can make a big difference for private and commercial applicators.

Always read labels

When working around agricultural chemicals, the first step must be to read the label instructions, said Sharon Dobesh, Pesticide and Pest Management Coordinator for Kansas State Cooperative Extension, Manhattan, Kan. Depending on the product and how it is applied, users may need different protective clothing and equipment .

"I always emphasize reading the label, especially the personal protective equipment (PPE) section," Dobesh said. "This gives the bare minimum requirements. You can always use more protective equipment , but you must have and use properly the bare minimum requirements as recommended on the label."

For example, some pesticides require different kinds of protective gloves.

"There's a different type for each chemical, and you can usually get them from farm supply stores," Dobesh said. "On the more commercial applicator end, they can order directly from suppliers." Other basic protective gear includes coveralls, boots, goggles, face shields, hats, and respirators. The National Ag Safety Database (NASD), an outreach of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, explains to applicators on its website that there are four routes chemicals can take to enter the body: Through the skin, the mouth, the nose and the eyes.

Protective clothing works

"Absorption through the skin is the most common form of poisoning," according to the NASD. This can occur from a splash, spill or drift when mixing, loading, applying, or disposing of chemicals. NASD advised applicators that liquids are more easily absorbed through the skin than powders and granular formulations. Protective clothing, consistently and properly used, can greatly reduce the amount of chemical absorption through the skin.

The key to protective clothing is to minimize the item of clothing's absorption of the chemical.

"Boots, for example, if they're leather and the user is afraid of a spill, they can use boot covers, or rubber irrigation boots made to protect the boot from absorption of the chemical," Dobesh said. Leather can really hold concentrated amounts of chemical for a long time, so it's best to reduce contact in the first place.

Another item of protective clothing that most applicators misuse is the long-sleeved shirt.

"It's not so much that they're overlooking wearing a long-sleeved shirt, but that it's not properly used," Dobesh said. "Most of the time the long sleeves are rolled up around their elbows."

Protection shouldn't stop at the edge of the field

Protection from chemical contact doesn't stop at the field, however. Most applicators forget that they can bring chemical residues home on the clothing they wore in the field. And, if they don't take the proper steps in the family laundry room, they risk residue contact with other family members.

"All clothing that has been exposed to residue and spills must be kept separate and washed separately from the family laundry," Dobesh said. "We recommend hot water, with the highest water setting the machine has, and in a heavy-duty detergent. We recommend they should line dry the clothing because sunlight and heat are two things that will break down pesticides. If those clothes get tossed into a dryer, the heat will break down the chemicals, but the fumes from the chemicals will be released into the home."

Immediately after running a load of protective clothing, applicators must then run another full wash cycle in the machine to rinse out any residues left in the washer, Dobesh said. "Take out the clothes, hang them on the line and run another complete wash cycle with nothing in it but detergent to clean out the washer before you do any other loads." As far as home remedies of baking soda or vinegar, Dobesh said the best cleaning agent is a good, strong, reputable detergent.

If clothing has been run through a wash cycle and it's still apparent that there's still chemical residue, Dobesh recommends throwing out the clothing. "Don't burn it, because that could release the fumes," she said. This is a case of being safe, rather than being sorry, she added.

Facility design can protect users

Design of facilities and equipment is another key factor to proper protection and one producers might overlook.

The key to storage of any farm chemical is that the area must be clean and dry, and protected from the elements, Dobesh said.

"Not everyone may have a storage shed that has proper ventilation, but a Quonset hut can keep chemicals dry as much as possible," she added. It's recommended that applicators be careful to separate their dry chemicals from their liquid chemicals so that if a bag should happen to break, there isn't an immediate contamination concern. When storing, it's advisable to place dry chemicals up high on a shelf, and liquids down low.

"Small jugs of chemicals can be put inside a Rubbermaid tub or some other secondary containment, just in case they leak or burst," Dobesh added. "Sometimes the seams in some of the older containers can get weak and leak."

Product packaging is more than a pretty label. Packaging not only offers vital safety information, but it's also an important protective measure. Dobesh reminded all users to keep chemicals in their original packaging and to not use food containers as replacement chemical containers. "It's especially important if you have kids or pets around the farm," she added. The NASD also recommends that chemicals should never be stored near food, feed or seed.

As for the ideal storage facility design, Dobesh says containment is key. "Having chemicals stored in a shed with a cement floor and good drainage that can be contained is optimal," she said. "That way, you can clean up any spills and any water used in the clean up can be contained."

There's also an ongoing debate about the merits of wood shelving versus metal shelving. "For a while we were recommending metal shelving, but then folks were going out and buying less expensive metal shelves that would cave in under heavy chemical containers," Dobesh said. She recommended that if producers use wood shelving, that it be sturdy and that any chemicals stored on it be in secondary containers, such as rubber tubs with lids that can be tightly sealed.

One final item that might be overlooked on farms is a strong lock for any storage facility, to keep the curious and those with less honorable intentions out. The NASD also recommends that any storage facility should be clearly marked with chemical warning signs.

"It can get expensive," she said. "But, if you're building a new facility, it's something to keep in mind when you're designing it."

Consequences can be tough

Besides ensuring the safety of chemical applicators, appropriate protective gear is also required for certified applicators in the state of Kansas. It's rare, but if a certified private or commercial applicator is found to not be taking the proper safety precautions, he can be written up by a State Department of Agriculture field inspector, Dobesh said. "They could be written up, and civil fines could be imposed if the offense is severe enough," she said. "Repeat offenders could even lose their certification." On the commercial side, she noted, the state has become fairly serious in filing charges through the local county against applicators not following protective procedures.

There are many venues for advice on proper protective gear and storage of agricultural chemicals. Dobesh recommends applicators should look to their nearby county Cooperative Extension personnel, as well as their state departments of agriculture for help and guidelines.

Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached by phone at 620-227-1807, or by e-mail at jlatzke@hpj.com.

Date: 1/11/07

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