Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 4:HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT FACT SHEETSFact Sheet 4: Chemicals BackgroundThe hazardsA large and ever-increasing number and types of chemicals are used inagriculture. Agrochemicals include:pesticides which are mainly synthetic (human-made) agrochemicalsintended to destroy or control “pests” of all kinds. The main categoriesare herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and miscellaneous compounds(see Manual 5 for more details). Pesticides are the most hazardouscategory of agrochemicals as they are designed to kill or injureunwanted biological organisms and are deliberately spread in theenvironment whereas the aim with most other chemicals is to containtheir use to defined areasveterinary products – including animal medicines – are substancesused in the rearing of animals/livestock including fish. They are appliedto the skin of animals, or administered orally or by injection (seeManual 5 for more details)artificial chemical fertilisers, such as nitrates and phosphates, appliedto promote crop growth. They can irritate the skin if handled withoutgloves. They can be important water pollutants. Fire is a risk with alltypes of fertiliser with toxic fumes being releasedcommodity chemicals which include caustic/corrosive substances suchas sulphuric acid for straw treatment; propionic acid for silagetreatment; hydrofluoric acid for cleaning glass in commercialglasshouses; as well as powerful disinfectants for bacterial control inanimal houses/equipmentPreventionand controlIt is important to treat all chemicals – even if they are labelled asmedicines – with caution and to prevent and minimise the risks ofexposure.Chemicals can be hazardous at all stages – from use through to handling,storage, transport, spillage and disposal. As many agricultural workers andtheir families live where they work, they face extra dangers from, forexample, exposure to pesticides and other agrochemicals in water, air,contaminated soil and residues in the farm produce they eat.134 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers