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MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE MAIZE TRUST
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B Y R
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N A COUNTRY THAT IS OFTEN COMPARED TO THE
MOST ADVANCED FARMING NATIONS IN THE WORLD,
FARM WORKERS ARE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT
OF THE AGRICULTURAL SUCCESS STORY. A HEALTHY
WORK FORCE IS A VALUABLE ASSET; PRODUCERS
NEED TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS DO NOT FACE UNDUE
RISKS WHILE WORKING.
Pesticides – insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, plant growth regu-
lants and adjuvants – are compounds that are potentially hazardous
to human beings. Farm workers most often handle and apply these
essential plant protection products, with varying levels of risk to them-
selves and the environment. The safe handling of pesticides should be
gospel on farms. Sometimes, however, there are incidents of undue
exposure because of irresponsible practices – often with dire conse-
quences to those who were exposed.
LIMITING ACCESS IS THE STARTING POINT
Not all farm workers need to be involved with pest management on
the farm, therefore producers should hand-pick those who show a
high level of responsibility to work with pesticides. The pesticide
store manager is the first defence against any pesticide risks. He or
she is responsible not only for stock control and dispensing of plant
protection products, but should also oversee and supervise the prep-
aration of spray mixtures. It is essential to equip this valuable person
with the best set of personal protective clothing that money can buy.
The store manager’s most important task is access control. No one
apart from the store manager and the producer must have access to
the pesticide store.
USING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
IS NOT NEGOTIABLE
Certain elements of personal protection are universal for all, such as
full body cover in the form of an overall (mostly good quality cotton
will suffice), butylene rubber boots and long butylene rubber gloves.
A hat is highly recommended, while some form of facial cover
is also required. This may be a simple eye shield to prevent spray
drift from contaminating the eyes, to something more elaborate like
a chemical breather mask when working with highly toxic pesticides
such as methamidophos during spray mixture preparation. It is not
only required to prevent the inhaling of spray mist, but also to pre-
vent the discomfort of the putrid odour of many organophosphate
insecticides. The filter canister must be replaced regularly to ensure
the breather mask functions properly.
SIMPLE PROTECTION FOR SPRAY OPERATORS
The spray operator is the one who is perhaps at greatest risk of un-
due exposure to pesticides, because of the nature of the work. For-
tunately, the risk is generally low due to the significant dilution of the
pesticide in the spray tank. However, this does not warrant a slack
approach. Full body cover (overall), rubber boots, rubber gloves, hat
as well as nose and mouth cover are required to keep the worker
safe. Knapsack spray operators should also wear a polyethylene
apron back to front to protect the back against spray mixture dripping
from the knapsack. Once the work has been completed, the worker
needs to clean the personal protective clothing, wash the hands and
face and take a shower to decontaminate the body. When working
with tractor boom sprays, this set of clothing is adequate, but a mist
blower requires total facial cover because inhaling the fine mist and
eye contact become real risks.
ADVANCED PROTECTION FOR SPRAY MIX PREPARATIONS
Preparing spray mixtures is a risky business due to the high concen-
tration of the active ingredients in the formulation. Here the work-
er must wear full protection plus a facial cover and a splash-proof
apron, especially when pouring liquid concentrates into measuring
beakers or directly into the spray tank. A splash of glyphosate can
at worst burn the skin, but a splash of chlorpyrifos or paraquat may
cause more serious problems. Prevention is better than cure. As with
spray operators, such specialist workers need to clean their personal
protective clothing after work and sanitise themselves properly.
NO EATING, DRINKING OR SMOKING
Eating, drinking or smoking are high risk activities as it offers an easy
conduit for pesticides to enter the body. It is best to allow ample
time for the removal of gloves and facial covers, to wash the hands
and face properly and then proceed to eat or drink. Food and drinks
should not be allowed anywhere near a pesticide store or in fields
where pesticides are being applied.
COMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS MUST
NOT WORK WITH PESTICIDES
Any person will fall ill at some time or another. Ailments such as
common colds, influenza and gastroenteritis are reasons for not al-
lowing people to work with pesticides. While the body is fighting a
medical condition, it may not be able to cope with even a small expo-
sure to pesticides. The liver is a wonderful detoxification organ, but
it will battle to fend off endotoxins produced by a microbial infection
as well as some pesticides that enter the body.
RE-ENTRY AFTER SPRAYING CROPS
Pesticide labels will show what the safe pre-entering interval is under
Warnings and Precautions. That is to allow the pesticide molecules
to metabolise sufficiently to minimise the risk to producers and farm
workers. Should farm workers have to work in treated crops for what-
ever reason before the re-entry time has expired, they need to wear
the full set of protective clothing and decontaminate themselves and
their clothing afterwards.
FARM WORKER FAMILY SAFETY
Most farm workers and their families live on farms and often close to
crop fields. Before any spraying commences, family members should
Dr Gerhard H Verdoorn, opera-
tions and stewardship manager,
CropLife South Africa. First
published in SA Graan/Grain
November 2019. Send an email
to gerhard@croplife.co.za
Graan
Safety of farm workers
HANDLING PESTICIDES NOT NEGOTIABLE