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Applicator & Worker Safety

Using & Handling Pesticides Safely

Anyone who applies pesticides or who assists a pesticide applicator by preparing tank mixes, loading application equipment, or cleaning or maintaining application equipment, should read and follow the label directions for personal protection. Handling the concentrated form of a pesticide can be more hazardous even than applying it in its final diluted form, so pesticide labels often have different Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements for "mixers/loaders" than for applicators. These requirements should be read and carefully followed.

There are several laws that govern personal safety with regard to the occupational exposure to or use of pesticides.

The Federal Worker Protection Standard protects agricultural workers in farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses by requiring specific training and access to information for any employees who may enter an area where pesticides have been used.
The New Mexico Pesticide Control Act requires that anyone applying pesticides commercially be licensed. Anyone who purchases or uses restricted use pesticides, whether commercially applied or not, must also be licensed. This helps insure that persons applying pesticides for their job have the knowledge to keep themselves and others safe.

In Case of a Spill

Anyone who applies pesticides should have a spill kit for taking care of minor spills. A typical spill kit may consist of chemical-resistant gloves, some chemical sorbant pads or kitty litter, a large bag for temporarily storing the used sorbant, and some chemical-resistant overshoes or boots. These materials are generally available from chemical suppliers and can be purchased in a convenient kit form also.

If you carry large volumes of pesticide you should also have a sorbant tube sock that can be used to minimize the spread of a liquid spill.

Major spills should be reported to NMDA and to the New Mexico Environment Department.