化学标签是你的朋友-确定正确的PPE喷洒安全。
Anyone accustomed to spraying herbicides knows the job has inherent dangers, especially when working with chemicals with a higher toxicity. Ensuring you’re protected for the job is essential before beginning any spraying task.
In many situations, experienced operators know the necessity of personal protective equipment (PPE). The right clean, well-maintained PPE labeled for specific use to protect the most likely points of entry into the body — skin, mouth and respiratory system — should be made available for every operator who works directly with herbicides and pesticides. It’s not only important to have the equipment with you, but also to wear it according to specific instructions to ensure you’re safe from any potential chemical injury.
“It is very important to select the correct PPE,” according to areportfrom North Carolina State University Extension Pesticide Safety Education SpecialistWayne Buhler. “More is not necessarily better in the case of PPE. Select the PPE required by the label of the chemical you’re applying.”
Understand chemical-resistant versus water-resistant.
在选择PPE时，理解产品标签上的几个关键术语是很重要的。
If a PPE garment is “chemical-resistant,” that doesn’t mean it’s completely impervious to infiltration by many common chemicals. How strong that resistance is depends on the specific product being applied.
Correct selection of PPE is the first critical step. Follow the pesticide product label carefully when certain types of gloves, respirators, and/or other PPE are specified. For example, a specific type of glove material may be highly chemical-resistant to some pesticide products but not others. A respirator suitable for one task may not be suitable for another.
“‘防水’材料与‘耐化学’材料是不同的，”他说。“‘化学抗性’PPE是一种材料，它不允许使用的农药在使用过程中通过材料进行可测量的移动。然而，‘耐化学物质’的围裙、工作服、护目镜、鞋子、手套和头套在所有条件下、在相同的时间内对所有农药的抗性并不相同。”
固定好正确的装备。
Depending on what exactly you’re doing when working around chemicals and preparing your Apache Sprayer this season, here is a checklist to run through in preparing the right PPE to spray safe. Check your chemical label to see which of the following components are required for each product and operation:
- Aprons
- Coveralls
- Eye protection
- Footwear
- Gloves
- Headgear
- Respirator
Here’s more on how to select the right PPE.
让它运转正常。
It’s important not only to have the right safety gear, but to make sure it’s inspected and fitted for each individual user. When using various PPE items together, make sure they are in good working order and will perform their safety functions as a collective system.
“It is very important to select the correct PPE. Just as important, the PPE must be working correctly every time you use it, either alone or in combination with other PPE. When several pieces of PPE are used together, they must not interfere with each other. For example, protective goggles must not interfere with the operation of a respirator,” Buhler said. “Before and after every use, check for any type of deterioration of or damage to all the components, seams, etc. of the specific reusable PPE and, if necessary, dispose of it properly.”
See more waysto make sure you spray safe in the field this year.
