Pesticide Safety for the Experienced Applicators Cecil Tharp Pesticide Education Specialist Department of Animal and Range Montana State University.

Pesticide Safety for the Pesticide Safety for the Experienced ApplicatorsExperienced Applicators

Cecil TharpCecil Tharp

Pesticide Education SpecialistPesticide Education Specialist

Department of Animal and RangeDepartment of Animal and Range

Montana State UniversityMontana State University

What’s wrong with thisWhat’s wrong with this

LAWS (Enforcement)LAWS (Enforcement)

Many grow complacentMany grow complacent

Failure to catch offendersFailure to catch offenders

Some laws seem non-practical and Some laws seem non-practical and excessive in field situationsexcessive in field situations– Excessive heatExcessive heat– EconomicsEconomics

Many feel safe in today’s world of safer Many feel safe in today’s world of safer chemicals (pyrethroids or herbicides)chemicals (pyrethroids or herbicides)

ARE WE!

Some of our “Safest” chemicalsSome of our “Safest” chemicals

Chronic Affects EvidentChronic Affects Evident– Immune system problemsImmune system problems– Sores, RashesSores, Rashes

Pyrethroid Chronic ExposurePyrethroid Chronic Exposure

IS it worth the risk?IS it worth the risk?

IS COMPLACENCY NEW?IS COMPLACENCY NEW?Did we forget some history Did we forget some history

lessons?lessons?

FINES?FINES?

LAWS?LAWS?

SAFETY?SAFETY?

Which should be our focus?Which should be our focus?

To understand lets take a history lesson.To understand lets take a history lesson.

Pesticide Laws vs. Pesticide SafetyPesticide Laws vs. Pesticide Safety

What came first. What came first. – Pesticide Law or Pesticide SafetyPesticide Law or Pesticide Safety

Problems with slack laws Problems with slack laws

Pest resistancePest resistance

Increasing levels of chemical outputIncreasing levels of chemical output

Chemicals persisted in environmentChemicals persisted in environment

BiomagnificationBiomagnification

Non-target impactNon-target impact

Public concernPublic concern

Pesticide LAWSPesticide LAWS

1947 FIFRA1947 FIFRA– Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and

Rodenticide ActRodenticide ActMust be registered by USDA eventually EPAMust be registered by USDA eventually EPA

Usage be safeUsage be safe

Properly labeledProperly labeled

What drives behaviors?What drives behaviors?ARE WE SCARED?ARE WE SCARED?

Mode of EntryMode of Entry

Mode of EntryMode of Entry

Specimen LabelSpecimen Label

Access at Access at www.greenbook.netwww.greenbook.net

Information regarding personal protective Information regarding personal protective equipment for specific chemicalequipment for specific chemical

First Aid InformationFirst Aid Information

REI (Restricted Entry Interval)REI (Restricted Entry Interval)

Gives you toxicity categoryGives you toxicity category

PPEPPE

PPEPPE

CoverallsCoveralls

Chemical Resistant Suits, Gloves, Chemical Resistant Suits, Gloves, Footwear, Aprons, and Headgear.Footwear, Aprons, and Headgear.

Protective EyewearProtective Eyewear

RespiratorsRespirators

WovensWovens

CLASS I - Wovens (Low Toxicity)CLASS I - Wovens (Low Toxicity)– Blue Jeans, Cotton CoverallsBlue Jeans, Cotton Coveralls– Absorb ChemicalsAbsorb Chemicals– For Toxicity Class III or IV–>– Beware of rips in garments

CLASS II – Nonwovens (Moderate Toxicity)- Nonwovens (Warning)Nonwovens (Warning)- Synthetic Materials- Synthetic Materials– Tyvek, Comfort-Gard, Kleenguard LP, Tyvek, Comfort-Gard, Kleenguard LP, Tyvek QC, SaranexTyvek QC, Saranex– Toxicity Category II =>Toxicity Category II =>

CAUTION

Warning

Coated / Laminate SuitsCoated / Laminate Suits

For Toxicity Class I

PVC, Nitrile, Rubber

Tychem®– sealed seems.seems.

Non-breathableNon-breathable

Do not use rain suits Do not use rain suits with with cotton linerscotton liners

Danger

GlovesGloves

Want unlined gloves!

Nitrile, Neoprene, PVC

Do Not Wear Leather Gloves!

Do Not Wear Latex gloves!

Check for holes often!

Want 14 mils or higher!

Head and Neck CoveringHead and Neck Covering

Straw Hat?

Ball Cap?

Hard Hat?

Hoods??

Beware of sweat bands with hats which cause continuous skin contact

EyewearEyewear

Goggles

Face Shields

Safety Glasses

But never wear contacts when spraying pesticides!!!

RespiratorsRespiratorsRead Specimen LabelRead Specimen Label

½ mask particulate versus cartridge masks½ mask particulate versus cartridge masks

CartridgeCartridge– Fitted facepiece and replaceable filtersFitted facepiece and replaceable filters– Not for fumigantsNot for fumigants– Prefix of NIOSH/MSHA “TC”Prefix of NIOSH/MSHA “TC”

VaporsVapors

Inspect PPEInspect PPE

Make sure you have no smellsMake sure you have no smells– What should you do?What should you do?

Cartridges expired; renew every yearCartridges expired; renew every year

Is it clean and has it been cleaned?Is it clean and has it been cleaned?

Situation #1 – The FieldSituation #1 – The Field(Heat and PPE)(Heat and PPE)

Heat will promote mistakesHeat will promote mistakes

Can happen to anyoneCan happen to anyone

First AidFirst AidHeat Injuries vs. Pesticide InjuriesHeat Injuries vs. Pesticide InjuriesHeat Injuries Pesticides Injuries

Sweating Sweating

•Headache Headache

•Fatigue Fatigue

•Dry Membranes Moist Membranes

•Dry Mouth

•No tears or spit Salivation, spit, tears

•Fast pulse Slow Pulse

•Dilated pupils Pinpoint Pupils

•Confusion Confusion

•Loss of coordination Loss of coordination

Acute symptoms:Acute symptoms:Symptoms of OP and Carbamate Symptoms of OP and Carbamate

PoisoningPoisoningMild – headache, fatigue, dizziness

Moderate– muscle twitching,– unable to walk,– pinpoint pupils

Severe – unconscious, seizures,– death

First Aid – Chemical Cont.First Aid – Chemical Cont.

DO NOT ATTEND TO EXPOSED INDIVIDUAL DO NOT ATTEND TO EXPOSED INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT PROPER PPE!WITHOUT PROPER PPE!Refer to MSDS or Specimen Label for proper Refer to MSDS or Specimen Label for proper procedure which will vary according to which procedure which will vary according to which route of exposure.route of exposure.– Eyes, inhalation, ingestion, and skin.Eyes, inhalation, ingestion, and skin.

Rocky Mountain Poison Control CenterRocky Mountain Poison Control Center– 1-800-222-12221-800-222-1222

Save pesticide containerSave pesticide container– EPA reg. No. & Product NameEPA reg. No. & Product Name

Situation #2 – The homeSituation #2 – The home(Not in field; Are we safe?)(Not in field; Are we safe?)

Chemical is gone? – Poor disposal of Chemical is gone? – Poor disposal of containers has many affects varying on containers has many affects varying on contaminant involvedcontaminant involved

Situation #3 – Field and HomeSituation #3 – Field and HomePesticide Storage & SpillsPesticide Storage & Spills

Union Carbide Pesticide Manufacturing PlantUnion Carbide Pesticide Manufacturing PlantDecember 3December 3rdrd, 1984, 19848,000 initial dead8,000 initial dead15,000 more within 10 years15,000 more within 10 years500,000 suffer injuries500,000 suffer injurieswater wells near the site show overall chemical water wells near the site show overall chemical contamination to be 500 times higher than the contamination to be 500 times higher than the maximum limits recommended by the World maximum limits recommended by the World Health Organization. Health Organization. cancer, genetic defects (birth defects), and liver cancer, genetic defects (birth defects), and liver and kidney damage. and kidney damage.

Bhopal, India DisasterBhopal, India Disaster

Contact InformationContact Information

Cecil TharpCecil Tharp

Pesticide Education SpecialistPesticide Education Specialist

406-994-5067406-994-5067

[email protected]@montana.edu

www.pesticides.montana.eduwww.pesticides.montana.edu