This document provides an overview of pesticide safety for a training course. It discusses key topics like reading pesticide labels, understanding active ingredients and signal words, proper use of protective equipment, safe practices for mixing, applying, storing and disposing of pesticides. Safety hazards like exposure, spills and first aid procedures are explained. The goal is for participants to understand how to safely and properly use pesticides by recalling the important points covered.

1. Prepared by Mark Bell, Mark Henderson and
Frank Zalom with input from
Ehsan Ehsanullah
and Tom Brown

2. Course objectives
 Know key points in the application and safe use of
pesticides
 Note: At the end, participants will take a review quiz to
show they can recall all the key points.
 Support materials – fact sheets and check lists, review
quiz,

3. Course structure
Pesticides
Defining
pests
Defining
pesticides
Do I need
to spray?
About
equipment?
Safety

4. Safety – Pesticide Label
 Be sure
 Crop is on the label.
 Pest is on the label.
 To follow label directions for mixing.
 To follow label directions for protective clothing.
 To check for other precautions (e.g., limitations on
harvested produce).

5. Safety – Pesticide Label
About the label
 Signal words are…
 "CAUTION,“
 "WARNING," and
 "DANGER"
(in order of increasing toxicity)
 Indicates the relative acute toxicity, or
short-term effects, of the active
ingredients to humans. They do not
refer to long-term effects to humans
nor do they indicate the effect on
aquatic invertebrates.

6. Safety – Pesticide Label
About the label
 Active ingredient
 What is it?
 The active ingredient (a.i.) is the
material in the pesticide
formulation that actually destroys
the target pest or performs the
desired function. Pesticide labels
are required by law to show the
active ingredient and its
percentage.

7. Safety – Pesticide Label
About the label
 Other (or inert) ingredients?
 Inert ingredients are all materials
in the pesticide formulation other
than the active ingredient.
 These ingredients do not work to
control the pest, but help dissolve
the active ingredient, improve or
enhance pesticide activity.
 Some inert ingredients may be
toxic or hazardous to humans.

8. Safety – Pesticide Label
About the label
 Trade names
 The trade name is any brand name that
is used exclusively by one manufacturer
for a product containing the pesticide
chemical. There may be several trade
names for a single product, thus making
it confusing.
 Do not rely on brand names to
identify pesticides.

9. Safety – Pesticide Label
Surfactants
 What is a surfactant?
 Added to decrease surface tension of the applied liquid
to improve surface wetting and penetration of the
product.
 Check the label - surfactants may be added or may
come as already included in the product.

10. Photo: Pesticide Management Education Program
– Cornell Cooperative Extension

11. Safety – Exposure
Understand the dangers
 When can you be
contaminated?
 How can you or others be
contaminated?
 Where is absorption greatest?
 What does that mean for
protecting yourself and
others? Photo: USDA

12. Safety – Dangers
 When are risks the highest for exposure?
 Spills and splashes (e.g. mixing)
 Spray drift and dust from pesticide application
 Skin contact with residues
Photo: Pesticide Management Education Program
– Cornell Cooperative Extension

13. Safety – Dangers
 Why is mixing so dangerous?
 Dealing with pure concentrated product
 Greater potential for spills during
mixing
 Tips:
 Mix in a well ventilated area
 Wear protective equipment – especially
gloves, mask and closed shoes
 Stand up-wind when mixing
Photo: Fintrac Inc.

14. Safety – Dangers
Mixing
 Keep a set of measuring equipment
for use only with pesticides.
 Clearly label them as "PESTICIDE
ONLY"
 Store them in a secure area away
from food preparation areas.
Photo: Pesticide Management Education Program
– Cornell Cooperative Extension

15. Safety – Exposure
 Be aware of the where pesticides
can enter the body.
 How can pesticides enter your
body?
 through eyes
 Breathing – entry into the lungs
 through the mouth
 through the skin
Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

16. Safety - Exposure
 Note that there are differences
in absorption through skin.
 Where is absorption greatest?
 Scrotum
 Ears
 Forehead and Scalp
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/agengi
n/g01916.htm

17. Safety – Exposure
 Another way at
looking at
absorption
 Note absorption
through the armpit
The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides – UC IPM

18. Safety - Exposure
 What does this mean when
applying in the field?
 Wear protective equipment
 Wash hands before going to
the bathroom.
 What’s the difference between
absorption on the forearm and
forehead?
 When hot and sweaty, do you
wipe your arm on your
forehead? http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/agengi
n/g01916.htm

19. Safety – Protective Gear
 Personal Protective
Equipment
 Minimum:
 rubber gloves,
 eye protection,
 long-sleeved shirt,
 long pants,
 mask,
 closed shoes
 Avoid using cotton gloves or lightweight dust masks
that may absorb the spray and increase contact with skin.

20. Safety – Protective Gear
 Is this person ready to apply
pesticide?
 What is good?
 Has a hat and long sleeves
 What is not so good?
 No protection for eyes, mouth or
hands.
 Shoes?
Photo IDRC

21. Safety – Protective Gear
 Equipment care:
Goggles, boots and
gloves
 Wash frequently.
 Use warm soapy water
and a brush to clean
most protective gear.
 Repair or replace any
ripped or damaged gear.
The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides – UC IPM

22. Safety – Protective Gear
 Equipment care: Clothes
 Do not re-wear
contaminated clothes
until they have been
washed.
 Wash clothing used to
apply pesticides
separately from all other
clothes.
The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides – UC IPM

23. Safety – Good Practices
 Before you spray…
 Check the label
 First put on all protective equipment
 Inspect sprayer and hose to ensure
there are no leaks
 Check area to make sure there are no:
 People
 Pets/Livestock
 Check for ponds, streams, wells, other
water sources.
Photo: Ron Horii – Santa Teresa
County Park
Don’t spray near streams

24. Safety – Good Practices
 Does water quality have any effect?
 Yes
 Rule of thumb: Use water only if you
can see a coin dropped in the bottom
of a bucket of water
Photo IRRI

25. Safety – Good Practices
 While Spraying…
As much as possible
 Spray away from the body
 Do not let yourself become soaked with pesticide
 Avoid walking through spray
 Stand upwind
 Avoid spraying straight overhead
 Be mindful of drift (wind carrying pesticide
droplets)

26. Safety – Good Practices
 Wash hands before:
 Eating
 Going to bathroom
 Smoking
 Do not wipe forearm on
forehead when sweaty.
 Keep foods away from
pesticides and sprayed
areas. Keep covered.
Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555
Pesticide
residue on
person’s hands
seen under
florescent light.
Photo: International Potato
Center

27. Safety – Good Practices
 Take a shower as soon after application as possible.
 Wash clothing separately from other laundry.
 Never smoke, drink, eat, or use the bathroom after
pesticide application without washing first.
Pesticide Safety for Small Farms, UC ANR Pub. 21555

28. Safety – Cleaning Equipment
 When finished using sprayer…
 Try to not have any excess
pesticide in the tank.
 Rinse tank by running fresh
water through the sprayers.
 Do not leave sprayer in the
field.
 Do not allow equipment to sit
for a long time with pesticide
in the tank. This may clog or
corrode the machine.

29. Safety – Cleaning Equipment
 Rinse the outside of
the sprayer
thoroughly with
water (avoiding the
engine)
 Check pesticide label
for clean up
procedures
Photo: Tim McCabe, USDA

30. Safety - Disposal
 What can be done about pesticide excess?
 Don’t create any excess!
 Only mix the amount of pesticide that you need for the job.
 If you make excess try to use the pesticide on another
appropriate site.
 Store in a clearly marked container for later use.
 Follow label guidelines for disposal.

31. Safety – Disposal
 How about pouring excess pesticide
down the drain?
 Absolutely NOT!
 Why?
 Ground water
pollution
 River/aquatic
pollution
Diagram: USDS
Picture: UC IPM

32. Safety - Disposal
 What to do about empty pesticide containers?
 Read the label
 Typically - Rinse 3 times
 Puncture the container (so it can not be reused)
 Dispose in a landfill or recycle
 Never use empty pesticide containers for other
purposes (e.g. storing water).

33. Safety – Disposal
Diagram: Purdue Pesticide Program – Purdue Univ. Cooperative Extension
Empty
container into
spray tank

34. Safety – Disposal
Diagram: Purdue Pesticide Program – Purdue Univ. Cooperative Extension
Rinse
container
with water,
shake, add to
tank and
repeat

35. Safety – Disposal
Diagram: Purdue Pesticide Program – Purdue Univ. Cooperative Extension
Destroy and
dispose of
container

36. Safety – Reentry into the field
 When is it safe to reenter the field after spraying
(without protective gear)?
 When the plants are dry?
 No
 Check the pesticide label?
 Yes

37. Safety - Reentry
 Check for “REI” or the
“Restricted Entry
Interval”
Sample Label
Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

38. Safety - Reentry
 Post a sign so others will
know not to enter the
field during the
Restricted Entry Interval.
Photo: Forestry Suppliers Inc.

39. Safety – Product marketing
 What may prevent you selling a product treated with
pesticide?
 Application is too close to sale date.
 How can you be sure if you are okay?
 Read the label!
 Note any limitations in the country importing your
product.

40. Safety – Storage
 Store all chemicals in the
original labeled containers
 Lock in cabinet or shed,
away from food or feeds,
and out of the reach of
children, unauthorized
persons, pets, and
livestock.
 Keep spraying and mixing
equipment locked up as
well.
Photo: Pesticide Management Education Program
– Cornell Cooperative Extension

41. Safety – Storage
 Children make up the
largest non-agrarian
pesticide victims
 Never store pesticides in
unmarked or incorrect
containers
The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides – UC IPM

42. Safety - Spills
 Pesticide spills can occur at any time
 First protect yourself, others, animals, and water sources
 Be sure to wear protective gear
 Control
 Stop the spill from continuing
 Contain
 Stop spill from spreading
 Use dirt to barricade a liquid pesticide
 Clean Up
 Do not hose down the spill. This will make the situation
worse.
 Soak up liquid with saw dust, dirt, clay, etc.
 Sweep spill into plastic containers for later disposal.

43. What can be done during pesticide emergencies?
Photo: Ambulancesimulator.com

44. Safety – First Aid Symptoms
 Dizziness
 Headache, blurred
vision
 Sweating too much
 Stomach cramps,
vomiting
 Eye irritation
 Skin rashes
 Trouble breathing
 Chest pains
Illustrations: Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

45. Safety – First Aid
 If pesticide is in eyes, rinse
immediately with clean water for
about 15 minutes.
 If pesticide gets on clothing or skin
take clothes off immediately and
wash skin with soap and water.
 The faster you act, the less
likely harm will occur.
Illustrations: Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

46. Illustrations: Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555
Safety – First Aid
 Call the nearest place for
medical care.
 All pesticide labels have
emergency first aid information.
Picture: Bayer CropScience – Admire 2 label

47. Safety – First Aid
 What should you do if pesticides are inhaled?
 First leave the contaminated area.
 Loosen clothing for better breathing.
 Give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if breathing
has stopped.
 Try to calm down exposed person.
 Get immediate medical care.
Illustrations: Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

48. Safety – First Aid
 What should you do if pesticide is swallowed?
 Follow label’s instructions.
 Drink 1 liter of milk or water if person is conscious if the
pesticide is not corrosive or petroleum based, induce
vomiting.
 Get immediate medical care.

49. References
 UC IPM http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/index.html
 Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides. UC IPM
 Pesticide Safety for Small Farmers. A Growers Guide to
Pesticide Safety. UC ANR
 Pesticide Safety: A Reference manual for Private
Applicators. UC IPM

50. Prepared by Mark Bell, Mark Henderson and
Frank Zalom with input from
Ehsan Ehsanullah
and Tom Brown