# Presentation: 105033

## Field Safety Overview(better the field than the lab?)

## Table of Contents

- Worker Protection Standard Training
- Heat Stress
- West Nile Virus

## Worker Protection Standard Training

- It is illegal for anyone other than a trained, properly equipped pesticide handler to be present at a site during a pesticide application.
- Pesticide handlers must be routinely monitored while they are making applications in certain hazardous situations or using pesticides

## Contents of Worker Protection Standard Training

**Restricted-entry intervals (REIs)**
**Personal protective equipment (PPE)**
**Notification of workers**
**Decontamination supplies**
**Emergency assistance**
**Pesticide safety training and safety posters**
**Access to labeling and site specific information**** **

## Storing Pesticides Properly

- Never store pesticides in old bottles
- Containers must be properly sealed and always from extreme heat and cold
- All pesticides stored under lock and key at all times

## Personal ProtectiveEquipment

- Wear tight clothing and look for ticks afterwards
- Use earplugs or ear protective devices when around noisy equipment
- Use respirators in conditions of high dust potential (blowing soils, pesticides, fertilizers
- Be sure pant legs are tucked in or kept tight to prevent catching on machinery and reducing problems with ticks.

- Use protective eyewear when handling pesticides or when other eye injuring situations occur
- Please tie back long hair to prevent scalping!!!

## Respiratory User Seal Test

**Test for Positive Pressure**
- Place palm over exhalation valve, cover, and exhale gently
- Positive pressure should be felt inside the face-piece

## Respiratory User Seal Test, cont.

**Test for Negative Pressure**
- Place palms over the open area of the retainer
- Inhale gently and hold your breath for 5 – 10 seconds
- The face-piece should collapse slightly

## Be aware pesticides enter the body through:

- absorption through skin contact, especially the eyes;
- inhalation of fumes, vapours and dusts;
- accidental swallowing while eating, drinking or smoking
- The skin on various body parts does not absorb pesticides at the same rate

## Mix and Load Pesticides Properly

- Mix the pesticides outdoors
- Stand upwind of the pesticide to avoid contaminating yourself

## Transferring Pesticides

- When removing concentrated material from the container, keep the container below eye level to avoid splashing or spilling the pesticide into your face and eyes
- If you splash or spill, stop immediately, remove clothing and wash yourself thoroughly with soap and water

## Spraying

- Spray with minimal drift and preferably in low wind conditions.
- Never spray in high wind conditions.
- Use mechanical suction to transfer pesticides to spray tank.
- A vortex system can be used to mix pesticide concentrate with water before filling the spray tank.
- Prevent nozzles blocking by using correct filters and pesticide formulation. Ensure water and equipment are clean.
- Clear blocked nozzles by using a soft bristle brush or compressed air. Never suck or blow nozzles to clear them.

## For skin contact, wash with soap and water, and rinse with clean water. Remove any contaminated clothing, and seek medical advice. 

For eye contact, hold eye open under running water for 15 minutes. Seek medical advice.

**For eye contact, **hold eye open under running water for 15 minutes. Seek medical advice.

## Contaminated Clothing

- Always assume that clothing worn while working with pesticide has been contaminated.  It should be laundered after each use.
- Presoak clothing in hot water containing heavy-duty liquid detergent, drain, and then regular wash.
- Line drying is preferable to machine drying, as it eliminates the potential for dryer contamination

## Notification of Workers

## Always read the labels!

## Symptoms of Organophosphate/ Carbamate Poisoning 

- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Moist membranes
- Salivation
- Tears
- Spit present in mouth
- Slow pulse

- Nausea and diarrhea
- Possible small pupils
- Central nervous system depression
- Loss of coordination
- Confusion
- Coma (can't waken)

## No Eating & Drinking in areas with chemicals!

## Heat Stress

- Pesticide handlers and early entry workers may NOT be allowed or directed to perform any handling or early entry activity unless appropriate measures have been taken to prevent heat illness.

## Soil absorbs the sun’s energy and radiates it back into the air.

You body radiates heat back into the air only if the air temperature is cooler than your skin temperature, which is 92 degree F.

High humidity slows or prevents evaporation of body sweat

- Soil absorbs the sun’s energy and radiates it back into the air.
- You body radiates heat back into the air only if the air temperature is cooler than your skin temperature, which is 92 degree F.
- High humidity slows or prevents evaporation of body sweat

## Symptoms of Heat Stress

- Sweating
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Dry membranes
- Dry mouth
- No tears
- No spit present
- Fast pulse (slow if person has fainted)

- Nausea
- Dilated pupils
- Central nervous system depression
- Loss of coordination
- Confusion
- Fainting (prompt recovery)

## If you begin to have symptoms of heat stress..

- Rest in a cool shade
- Drink plenty of water

## If heat stress symptom is severe..

- Lay the victim down
- Apply cool wet cloth to exposed skin

## Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning are similar to heat illness

- Confusion
- Twitching muscles
- Unconsciousness
- Convulsion

## If you suspect pesticide poisoning, you should ....

- Lay victim in shade
- Provide water
- Get medical help immediately

## Controlling heat stress	

- Start work early and schedule the most strenuous tasks for early in the day.  Always take periodic rest breaks
- Drink 2 to 3 gallons of water per day, because on a hot day you can easily lose 3 gallons of body fluids through sweating alone.
- Acclimate – gradual adjusting to working in a hot environment.

## ABCD of Skin Cancer

**Look for changes in the skin:**
- growth
- a sore that doesn’t heal
- moles that are starting to look irregular.
- size of or larger than a pencil easer
- scaly patches or raised growths on tip of nose, forehead, lower lip, or hands
- small, fleshy bumps on your face, ears, lips, or around your mouth.

## Preventing Skin Cancer

- Don't go outside between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat and clothes with a tight weave.
- Wear sunglasses that filter at least 90 percent of the UV rays
- Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater
- Do a monthly mole check to catch melanomas in their early stages:

## West Nile Virus

- West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne infection that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).
- Dead birds may provide an early indication of the appearance of West Nile virus in an area and may help to forecast the chances of people becoming infected.
- Report any dead crows on the Cornell University campus to Environmental Health & Safety (information will then be forwarded to the Tompkins County Health Department)

## Most people with WNV will not have any type of illness

**Mild Symptom**
- Fever
- Headache
- Body Ache
- Skin Rash
- Swollen Lymph Node

**Severe Symptom**
- High Fever
- Headache
- Neck Stiffness
- Stupor
- Disorientation
- Tremor
- Paralysis
- Coma

## Slide 31

## Slide 32

## Protect Yourself from West Nile Virus

- Shoes
- Long pants with bottoms tucked into boots or socks
- long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when many mosquitoes are most active (between dusk and dawn).

## Insect Repellent

- Insect repellents can be effective at reducing bites from ticks and insects that can transmit disease.
- But their use is not without risk of health effects, especially if repellents are applied in large amounts or improperly. Most repellent products contain the active ingredients permethrin or DEET.

## All Done!

- Make sure you fill out the quiz, sign it, and drop it off in my mailbox for record keeping.
- Remember:  This is an annual requirement.
-                **SEE YOU NEXT YEAR**

## THE END