Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 5:PESTICIDES AND HEALTH,SAFETY & THE ENVIRONMENTChecklist – Precautions during mixing and filling/loading Use PPE as per the label instructions, but in the absence of clear advice on PPE,wear a coverall and gloves and use a face shield to ensure minimum protection Take care that gloves do not tear on jagged metal or plastic edges whenunscrewing the cap NEVER mix a pesticide with your bare hands. Only open one container at a time,and replace the cap/close the container if there is chemical left Do not mix two or more concentrates before loading them into the tank Do not decant pesticides between containers and spray equipment Measure out pesticides only in an appropriate vessel and rinse it immediately;use scales dedicated to the task for powders Avoid lifting containers above shoulder height as they can splash Do not climb up a sprayer with an open container Make sure of good foothold if you have to pour directly into a tank, preferably onthe ground on a platform at the right height Pour slowly with the container opening positioned so that air can enter, soavoiding glugging and splashing Use filling attachments such as chemical induction probes and low level fillingand mixing tanks, or sealed mixing and filling systems Avoid causing foaming by sucking air into the tank when using an inductionprobe Rinse empty containers – at least three times – and store in a secure place priorto disposal Use a probe to rinse containers if you can Ensure there can be no run-back of pesticide into the water supplyDO NOT return a probe to its holster without washing it; likewise for a knapsacklanceDO NOT make a direct connection between a domestic water supply and a spraytankDO NOT take water from a stream without preventing run-backDO NOT smoke, eat or even drink when handling pesticides as this may result inpesticides getting into the mouth and being swallowed. Anyone smoking whilsthandling pesticides inhales the chemical vapour through a mini-furnace insidethe cigarette or pipe259 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers