QUARTER 1 - Module 4

Agricultural Crop Production 9

QUARTER I – Module 4
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REQUIRED PERSONAL
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PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
(PPE) IN
HORTICULTURAL WORK
What’s In
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to
any specialized equipment or clothing worn by
farmers and farm workers for protection
against health and safety hazards.
PPE is designed to protect many parts of the
body; eyes, head, face, hands, feet, ears, or
torso. PPE does not prevent accidents, but it
does prevent or reduce injury and even
fatalities when used.
Definitions of Equipment Protection:
 Eye and Face Protection – to provide
protection during exposure to hazards like
flying particles, metals or sparks, liquid
chemicals, caustic liquids, light radiation, i.e.,
welding lasers.
 Hearing Protection – to provide protection
during exposure to high pitch and loud noise
levels.
 Respiratory Protection – to provide
protection from inhalation hazards such as
vapors, mists, particulates, pesticides and
gases.
 Hand Protection – to provide protection
during exposure to potential hazards such as
sharp objects, abrasive surfaces, temperatures
extremes and chemical contact.
 Head Protection – to provide protection to
potential hazards such as falling objects,
striking against low-hanging objects, electrical
hazards, or chemical application.
 Foot Protection - to provide protection for
situations with the potential of injuries such as
falling or rolling objects, chemical or liquid
exposures, piercing objects, and where feet are
exposed to electrical hazards.
 Clothing Protection – to provide protection
from potential hazards such as
entanglement, skin cancer, bodily injury,
and pesticide contamination.
What to look for: GLOVES
X Don’t use the kind of rubber gloves you’d use to do
the dishes! These won’t protect you.
X Don’t use leather gloves! They may be tough, but
leather will absorb pesticides and cannot be properly
cleaned.
What to look for: BOOTS
Be careful what kind of rubber boots you choose.
Common rubber boots have a lining.
Don’t wear work boots. Leather and canvas
absorb pesticides and cannot be properly cleaned.
 Unlined rubber boots provide the best protection.
What to look for: HATS
 Wear a wide-brimmed, unlined hat to
protect your head and neck. If wearing a
rubber rain hat, make sure it does not have a
cloth lining.
 Make sure there is no cloth or leather band
inside your hat. The band will absorb pesticide
and hold it against your skin.
What to look for: COVERALLS
 Don’t use regular work clothes if there is a chance
your clothes will become wet with pesticide spray.
A spray suit will cover your work clothes and keep
you protected from exposure.
 The kind of coveralls designed for dust and dirt
can absorb pesticides. They may only be used when
the label does not specify using chemical resistant
coveralls, and when a 2nd layer of clothing will
provide adequate protection
If it isn’t worn – it won’t protect
PPE not only helps people but also improves
productivity. Farm workers can benefit from
using the appropriate protective equipment
for themselves, family members, and
workers when the job and its potential
hazards call for it.
Protective equipment must be carefully
selected. Test fit the protective equipment to
be sure of a proper and comfortable fit. If it
isn’t comfortable – it won’t be worn; if it isn’t
worn – it won’t protect.
Controlling a hazard at its source is the best
way to protect workers. Use of worksite
modification or work tasks as the best control
to manage or eliminate hazards. When these
controls are not feasible or do not provide
sufficient protection, then PPE should be
employed.
Assessing and controlling hazards
Assessingand controlling hazards is a careful
look at what, in the operation, could cause
harm to people… the operator, family
members, workers, guests… so that one can
decide whether enough precautions have
been taken or should be done. If the hazards
cannot be eliminated; then protecting people
is what matters.
To do this, a risk assessment of the farm is helpful.

 Step 1:
What are the hazards? A hazard is anything that
might cause harm, such as working from
ladders or working around electricity. The risk
is the chance that someone could be harmed by
these hazards.
o Spot hazards by walking around the workplace and
watching how people work. Learn from experience.
Think about past accidents to see if there are less
obvious hazards.
oAsk people who work on the operation. They may
have spotted something you have not noticed.
Step 2:
Who might be harmed and how? For each
hazard, decide who is most vulnerable to
be injured… employees, seasonal workers,
family (especially children), the public.
Think on how they might be injured.
Step 3:
Weigh the risks and decide on precautions. For
each hazard you need to look at what is
already being done; the controls that are in
place; and the way work is organized.
Step 4:
Put the results into practice. A risk
assessment is not the end in itself. It will not
stop someone from being injured, or made
ill, or dying. Make sure everyone who works
on the farm understands the controls you
have put into place.
Step 5:
Check that controls stay in place and review
the assessment. No workplace remains the
same. Eventually new equipment will be
purchased or ways of working have changed
that might bring in new hazards. Conduct a
risk assessment on an annual basis.
A risk assessment is an important step in
protecting people, and the business, as
well as complying with applicable laws. It
helps one focus on the risks that really
matter… the ones that can cause real
harm.
What’s More
 How to wear your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
Care of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Reduce your risk of exposure by checking
each part of your equipment.
Who is responsible for equipment?
Employers, employees and supervisors must
cooperate to reduce exposure. As an
assistant applicator, you may be responsible
for the cleanup of your equipment. Check
with your supervisor to make sure the
responsibilities are clear.
What is secondary contamination?
 Youmay not have pesticide spray contact you
directly, but you can still be exposed to pesticides
when removing your protective clothing, touching
contaminated surfaces or contacting a target
(such as brush) that was recently sprayed.
 Thehazard isn’t just to yourself: you can
contaminate your home if you do not clean
yourself and your equipment thoroughly.
Post-application cleanup
Ifyou use your coveralls for other work, you
will continue to be exposed to any pesticide
on them.
Use coveralls designed for pesticide
application and put them in a plastic bag
immediately after use until you can wash
them.
Thank you for listening…
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

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Agricultural Crop Production 9

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