Field Safety OverviewField Safety Overview(better the field than the lab?)(better the field than the lab?)

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

Worker Protection Standard TrainingWorker Protection Standard Training Heat StressHeat Stress West Nile VirusWest Nile Virus

Worker Protection Standard Worker Protection Standard TrainingTraining

It is illegal for anyone other than a trained, properly It is illegal for anyone other than a trained, properly equipped pesticide handler to be present at a site equipped pesticide handler to be present at a site during a pesticide application.during a pesticide application.

Pesticide handlers must be routinely monitored while Pesticide handlers must be routinely monitored while they are making applications in certain hazardous they are making applications in certain hazardous situations or using pesticidessituations or using pesticides

Contents of Worker Protection Contents of Worker Protection Standard TrainingStandard Training

Restricted-entry intervals (REIs)Restricted-entry intervals (REIs) Personal protective equipment (PPE)Personal protective equipment (PPE) Notification of workersNotification of workers Decontamination suppliesDecontamination supplies Emergency assistanceEmergency assistance Pesticide safety training and safety postersPesticide safety training and safety posters Access to labeling and site specific informationAccess to labeling and site specific information

Storing Pesticides ProperlyStoring Pesticides Properly

Never store pesticides in old Never store pesticides in old bottlesbottles

Containers must be properly Containers must be properly sealed and always from sealed and always from extreme heat and coldextreme heat and cold

All pesticides stored under All pesticides stored under lock and key at all timeslock and key at all times

Personal ProtectiveEquipmentPersonal ProtectiveEquipment Wear tight clothing and look for ticks afterwardsWear tight clothing and look for ticks afterwards Use earplugs or ear protective devices when around noisy Use earplugs or ear protective devices when around noisy

equipment equipment Use respirators in conditions of high dust potential (blowing Use respirators in conditions of high dust potential (blowing

soils, pesticides, fertilizers soils, pesticides, fertilizers Be sure pant legs are tucked in or kept tight to prevent Be sure pant legs are tucked in or kept tight to prevent

catching on machinery and reducing problems with ticks. catching on machinery and reducing problems with ticks.

Use protective eyewear when handling Use protective eyewear when handling pesticides or when other eye injuring pesticides or when other eye injuring situations occur situations occur

Please tie back long hair to prevent Please tie back long hair to prevent scalping!!!scalping!!!

Respiratory User Seal TestRespiratory User Seal Test

Test for Positive PressureTest for Positive Pressure

Place palm over exhalation Place palm over exhalation valve, cover, and exhale valve, cover, and exhale gentlygently

Positive pressure should be Positive pressure should be felt inside the face-piecefelt inside the face-piece

Respiratory User Seal Test, cont.Respiratory User Seal Test, cont.

Test for Negative PressureTest for Negative Pressure

Place palms over the open area Place palms over the open area of the retainerof the retainer

Inhale gently and hold your Inhale gently and hold your breath for 5 – 10 secondsbreath for 5 – 10 seconds

The face-piece should collapse The face-piece should collapse slightlyslightly

Be aware pesticides enter the body Be aware pesticides enter the body through:through:

absorption through skin absorption through skin contact, especially the eyes; contact, especially the eyes;

inhalation of fumes, vapours inhalation of fumes, vapours and dusts; and dusts;

accidental swallowing while accidental swallowing while eating, drinking or smokingeating, drinking or smoking

The skin on various body parts The skin on various body parts does not absorb pesticides at does not absorb pesticides at the same rate the same rate

Mix and Load Pesticides ProperlyMix and Load Pesticides Properly Mix the pesticides outdoorsMix the pesticides outdoors

Stand upwind of the pesticide to avoid Stand upwind of the pesticide to avoid contaminating yourselfcontaminating yourself

Transferring PesticidesTransferring Pesticides

When removing concentrated When removing concentrated material from the container, keep material from the container, keep the container below eye level to the container below eye level to avoid splashing or spilling the avoid splashing or spilling the pesticide into your face and eyespesticide into your face and eyes

If you splash or spill, stop If you splash or spill, stop immediately, remove clothing immediately, remove clothing and wash yourself thoroughly and wash yourself thoroughly with soap and waterwith soap and water

SprayingSpraying Spray with minimal drift and preferably in low wind Spray with minimal drift and preferably in low wind

conditions. conditions. Never spray in high wind conditions. Never spray in high wind conditions. Use mechanical suction to transfer pesticides to spray Use mechanical suction to transfer pesticides to spray

tank. tank. A vortex system can be used to mix pesticide A vortex system can be used to mix pesticide

concentrate with water before filling the spray tank. concentrate with water before filling the spray tank. Prevent nozzles blocking by using correct filters and Prevent nozzles blocking by using correct filters and

pesticide formulation. Ensure water and equipment are pesticide formulation. Ensure water and equipment are clean. clean.

Clear blocked nozzles by using a soft bristle brush or Clear blocked nozzles by using a soft bristle brush or compressed air. Never suck or blow nozzles to clear compressed air. Never suck or blow nozzles to clear them. them.

For skin contactFor skin contact, wash , wash with soap and water, with soap and water, and rinse with clean and rinse with clean water. Remove any water. Remove any contaminated clothing, contaminated clothing, and seek medical and seek medical advice. advice.

For eye contact, For eye contact, hold hold eye open under running eye open under running water for 15 minutes. water for 15 minutes. Seek medical advice.Seek medical advice.

Contaminated ClothingContaminated Clothing

Always assume that clothing worn while working Always assume that clothing worn while working with pesticide has been contaminated. It should with pesticide has been contaminated. It should be laundered after each use. be laundered after each use.

Presoak clothing in hot water containing heavy-duty Presoak clothing in hot water containing heavy-duty liquid detergent, drain, and then regular wash. liquid detergent, drain, and then regular wash.

Line drying is preferable to machine drying, as it Line drying is preferable to machine drying, as it

eliminates the potential for dryer contaminationeliminates the potential for dryer contamination

Notification of WorkersNotification of Workers

Always read the labels!Always read the labels!

Symptoms of Organophosphate/ Symptoms of Organophosphate/ Carbamate Poisoning Carbamate Poisoning

Sweating Sweating FatigueFatigue Moist membranesMoist membranes SalivationSalivation TearsTears Spit present in mouthSpit present in mouth Slow pulseSlow pulse

Nausea and diarrheaNausea and diarrhea Possible small pupilsPossible small pupils Central nervous system Central nervous system

depressiondepression Loss of coordinationLoss of coordination ConfusionConfusion Coma (can't waken)Coma (can't waken)

No Eating & Drinking in areas No Eating & Drinking in areas with chemicals!with chemicals!

Heat StressHeat Stress

Pesticide handlers and early entry workers may Pesticide handlers and early entry workers may NOT be allowed or directed to perform any NOT be allowed or directed to perform any handling or early entry activity unless handling or early entry activity unless appropriate measures have been taken to appropriate measures have been taken to prevent heat illness.prevent heat illness.

Soil absorbs the sun’s energy and radiates it back into Soil absorbs the sun’s energy and radiates it back into the air.the air.

You body radiates heat back into the air only if the air You body radiates heat back into the air only if the air temperature is cooler than your skin temperature, temperature is cooler than your skin temperature, which is 92 degree F.which is 92 degree F.

High humidity slows or prevents evaporation of body High humidity slows or prevents evaporation of body sweatsweat

Symptoms of Heat StressSymptoms of Heat Stress

SweatingSweating HeadacheHeadache FatigueFatigue Dry membranesDry membranes Dry mouthDry mouth No tearsNo tears No spit presentNo spit present Fast pulse (slow if Fast pulse (slow if

person has fainted)person has fainted)

NauseaNausea Dilated pupilsDilated pupils Central nervous system Central nervous system

depressiondepression Loss of coordinationLoss of coordination ConfusionConfusion Fainting (prompt Fainting (prompt

recovery)recovery)

If you begin to have symptoms of If you begin to have symptoms of heat stress..heat stress..

Rest in a cool shadeRest in a cool shade

Drink plenty of Drink plenty of waterwater

If heat stress symptom is severe..If heat stress symptom is severe..

Lay the victim Lay the victim downdown

Apply cool wet Apply cool wet cloth to exposed cloth to exposed skinskin

Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning are similar to heat illnessare similar to heat illness

ConfusionConfusion Twitching musclesTwitching muscles UnconsciousnessUnconsciousness ConvulsionConvulsion

If you suspect pesticide If you suspect pesticide poisoning, you should ….poisoning, you should ….

Lay victim in shadeLay victim in shade

Provide waterProvide water

Get medical help Get medical help immediatelyimmediately

Controlling heat stressControlling heat stress

Start work early and schedule the most strenuous Start work early and schedule the most strenuous tasks for early in the day. Always take periodic rest tasks for early in the day. Always take periodic rest breaksbreaks

Drink 2 to 3 gallons of water per day, because on a Drink 2 to 3 gallons of water per day, because on a hot day you can easily lose 3 gallons of body fluids hot day you can easily lose 3 gallons of body fluids through sweating alone.through sweating alone.

Acclimate – gradual adjusting to working in a hot Acclimate – gradual adjusting to working in a hot environment.environment.

ABCD of Skin CancerABCD of Skin Cancer

Look for changes in the skin:Look for changes in the skin: growthgrowth a sore that doesn’t heala sore that doesn’t heal moles that are starting to look moles that are starting to look

irregular.irregular. size of or larger than a pencil easersize of or larger than a pencil easer scaly patches or raised growths on scaly patches or raised growths on

tip of nose, forehead, lower lip, or tip of nose, forehead, lower lip, or handshands

small, fleshy bumps on your face, small, fleshy bumps on your face, ears, lips, or around your mouth. ears, lips, or around your mouth.

Preventing Skin CancerPreventing Skin Cancer

Don't go outside between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Don't go outside between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and clothes with a Wear a wide-brimmed hat and clothes with a

tight weave. tight weave. Wear sunglasses that filter at least 90 percent Wear sunglasses that filter at least 90 percent

of the UV rays of the UV rays Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater Do a monthly mole check to catch melanomas Do a monthly mole check to catch melanomas

in their early stages: in their early stages:

West Nile VirusWest Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne infection that can West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne infection that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).(inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).

Dead birds may provide an early indication of the appearance Dead birds may provide an early indication of the appearance of West Nile virus in an area and may help to forecast the of West Nile virus in an area and may help to forecast the chances of people becoming infected.chances of people becoming infected.

Report any dead crows on the Cornell University campus to Report any dead crows on the Cornell University campus to Environmental Health & Safety (information will then be Environmental Health & Safety (information will then be forwarded to the Tompkins County Health Department)forwarded to the Tompkins County Health Department)

Most people with WNV will not have Most people with WNV will not have any type of illnessany type of illness

Mild SymptomMild Symptom FeverFever HeadacheHeadache Body AcheBody Ache Skin RashSkin Rash Swollen Lymph NodeSwollen Lymph Node

Severe SymptomSevere Symptom High FeverHigh Fever HeadacheHeadache Neck StiffnessNeck Stiffness StuporStupor DisorientationDisorientation TremorTremor ParalysisParalysis ComaComa

Protect Yourself from Protect Yourself from West Nile VirusWest Nile Virus

ShoesShoes Long pants with bottoms tucked into boots or Long pants with bottoms tucked into boots or

sockssocks long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long

periods of time, or when many mosquitoes are periods of time, or when many mosquitoes are most active (between dusk and dawn).most active (between dusk and dawn).

Insect RepellentInsect Repellent

Insect repellents can be effective at Insect repellents can be effective at reducing bites from ticks and insects reducing bites from ticks and insects that can transmit disease. that can transmit disease.

But their use is not without risk of But their use is not without risk of health effects, especially if repellents health effects, especially if repellents are applied in large amounts or are applied in large amounts or improperly. Most repellent products improperly. Most repellent products contain the active ingredients contain the active ingredients permethrin or DEET. permethrin or DEET.

All Done!All Done!

Make sure you fill out the quiz, sign it, and drop Make sure you fill out the quiz, sign it, and drop it off in my mailbox for record keeping.it off in my mailbox for record keeping.

Remember: This is an annual requirement. Remember: This is an annual requirement.

SEE YOU NEXT YEARSEE YOU NEXT YEAR

THE ENDTHE END