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2008 Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide: Interpreting PPE Statements on Pesticide Labels1
O. Norman Nesheim and Frederick M. Fishel2This document helps you understand the revised PPE statements now part of labels on pesticide products used on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses.
Background
Many Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) statements on pesticide labels have been changed as a result of the Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides (WPS). These revised statements are more precise on the type of PPE that must be worn by pesticide handlers (mixers, loaders, and applicators). The terminology used to describe the required PPE is now more consistent from label to label. The tables accompanying this document list LABEL STATEMENTS used to describe the PPE required for use by mixers, loaders, and applicators.The column headed ACCEPTABLE PPE describes the options the pesticide handler has when the label statement lists a specific item of PPE. The tables are grouped by subject, as follows:
Table 1 - Body Protection
Table 2 - Hand Protection
Table 3 - Eye Protection
Table 4 - Foot Protection
Table 5 - Respiratory Protection
Table 6 - Head Protection
Tables
Table 1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Statements. (Body Protection)
Label Statement
Acceptable PPE
Long-sleeved shirt and long pants Long-sleeved shirt and long pants, or Woven or nonwoven coverall, or Plastic- or other barrier-coated coverall, or Rubber or plastic suit Coverall worn over short-sleeved shirt and short pants Coverall worn over short-sleeved shirt and short pants, or Coverall worn over long-sleeved shirt and long pants, or Coverall worn over another coverall, or Plastic- or other barrier-coated coverall, or Rubber or plastic suit Coverall worn over long-sleeved shirt and long pants Coverall worn over long-sleeved shirt and long pants, or Coverall worn over another coverall, or Plastic- or other barrier-coated coverall, or Rubber or plastic suit Chemical-resistant apron worn over coverall or over long-sleeved shirt and long pants Chemical-resistant apron worn over coverall or long-sleeved shirt and long pants, or barrier-coated coverall, or suit Plastic or other Rubber or plastic Chemical-resistant protective suit Plastic- or other barrier-coated coveralls, or Rubber or plastic suit Waterproof suit or liquid-proof suit Plastic- or other barrier-coated coveralls, or Rubber or plastic suit Table 2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Statements. (Hand Protection)
Label Statement
Acceptable PPE
Waterproof gloves Any rubber or plastic gloves sturdy enough to remain intact throughout the task being performed Chemical-resistant gloves Barrier-laminate gloves, or Other gloves that glove selection charts or guidance documents indicate are chemical-resistant to the pesticide for the period of time required to perform the task Chemical-resistant gloves such as butyl or nitrile Butyl gloves, or Nitrile gloves, or Other gloves that glove selection, charts or guidance documents indicate are chemical-resistant to the pesticide for the period of time required to perform the task
Table 3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Statements. (Eye Protection)
Label Statement
Acceptable PPE
Protective eyewear Shielded safety glasses, or Face shield, or Goggles, or Full-face respirator Goggles Goggles, or Full-face respirator Table 4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Statements. (Foot Protection)
Label Statement
Acceptable PPE
Shoes Leather, canvas, or fabric shoes, or Chemical-resistant shoes, or Chemical-resistant boots, or Chemical-resistant shoe coverings (booties) Chemical-resistant boots Chemical-resistant boots Table 5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Statements. (Respiratory Protection)
Label Statement
Acceptable PPE
Cartridge respirator Respirator with organic vapor-removing cartridge and pesticide prefilter, or Respirator with canister approved for pesticides, or Air-supplying respirator Air-supplying respirator or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) Air-supplying respirator, or Self-contained breathing Dust/mist filtering respirator Dust/mist filtering respirator, or Respirator with dust/mist filtering cartridge, or Respirator with organic vapor-removing cartridge and pesticide prefilter, or Air-supplying respirator Canister respirator (gas mask) Respirator with canister approved for pesticides, or Air-supplying respirator Table 6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Statements. (Head Protection)
Label Statement
Acceptable PPE
Chemical-resistant hood or wide-brimmed hat Rubber or plastic-coated safari-style hat, or Rubber or plastic-coated firefighter-style hat or Plastic- or other barrier-coated hood, or Rubber or plastic hood, or Full hood or helmet that is part of some respirators
Footnotes
1. This document is PI-16, one of a series of the Pesticide Information Office, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. This publication was adapted from "Coverall, Gloves, and other Skin Protection," "Protective Eyewear," and "Respirators," which were produced through cooperative efforts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Extension Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). For additional information, contact the Pesticide Information Office, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110710, Gainesville, FL 32611-0710, (352) 392-4721. Published: December 1995. Revised: November 2007. This publication is included in SP-43, 2008 Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. For a copy of this handbook, request information on its purchase at your county extension office.2. O. Norman Nesheim, Ph.D., professor emeritus, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department and former director, Pesticide Information Office; Frederick M. Fishel, associate professor, Agronomy Department, and Director, Pesticide Information Office; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
Use pesticides safely. Read and follow directions on the manufacturer's label.
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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
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