6.4 PPE Care, Cleaning, and Removal

6.4 PPE Care, Cleaning, and Removal

Quick Answer: Treat used PPE as contaminated until cleaned or disposed of properly. Doff carefully (often rinse reusable gloves, remove outer gear without touching dirty faces to skin, gloves last or per training, then wash hands). Launder separately from family wash, inspect before use, dispose of heavily contaminated gear as directed, and store clean PPE away from pesticides and food.

Buying the right gloves and respirator is only half of protection. Many exposures happen after the spray stops—when applicators remove gear carelessly, hug family members in dirty coveralls, toss contaminated clothing into the household laundry, or store a “clean” respirator next to open pesticide containers. Core expects you to treat PPE care, cleaning, and removal as part of the job, not optional housekeeping.

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Contaminated PPE is a secondary exposure source

During application, PPE intercepts spray and concentrate. After application, that same surface can:

• Transfer residue to bare hands during doffing
• Rub onto street clothes, vehicle seats, and steering wheels
• Contaminate lockers, break tables, and food containers
• Expose household members through shared laundry or wearing gear home
• Re-contaminate skin if reused while still dirty or damaged

Rule: Handle PPE to avoid contaminating clean areas; clean or dispose of it according to label and manufacturer guidance.

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Safe doffing sequence for pesticide work

Exact sequences vary by ensemble (disposable coverall vs reusable suit vs apron + respirator). Training and manufacturer instructions take precedence. A Core-sensible general sequence for many field jobs is:

Recommended general order (adapt to your gear)

1. Move to a designated clean-up area away from the treated zone when practical; keep bystanders clear.
2. Rinse reusable chemical-resistant gloves while still wearing them (if appropriate for the product and glove type) so the exterior is less contaminated before you touch other items.
3. Remove outer splash items first (apron, face shield) by handling relatively cleaner straps/edges; avoid hugging the dirty face of the shield to your clothing.
4. Remove protective clothing/coveralls by turning them inside-out as you peel them off so the contaminated exterior folds inward; do not shake vigorously (that aerosolizes dusts).
5. Remove boots carefully so dirt and residue do not pour inside onto socks; stand on a clean mat if available.
6. Remove eye protection and respirator without touching the face with dirty glove exteriors more than necessary; for respirators, handle straps and avoid the dirty filtering face if possible.
7. Remove gloves last (common pesticide training practice) using a skin-safe technique: peel one glove partially, use the protected hand to start the second, then finish so bare skin contacts only the inside of the gloves—or follow your program’s equivalent method.
8. Wash hands and face thoroughly with soap and clean water immediately after doffing; shower as soon as practical after significant handling days.
9. Change into clean clothes before driving personal vehicles or entering living spaces when outer gear was contaminated.

Why “gloves last” is often taught

If you remove gloves first, every subsequent doffing step uses bare hands on contaminated surfaces. Keeping gloves on until outer gear is off reduces that transfer—then remove gloves carefully and wash. Some specialized ensembles (certain chemical suits or supplied-air gear) use different manufacturer sequences; follow the training for that system, but never skip handwashing.

What not to do while doffing

• Yank sleeves so spray flicks into eyes or mouth
• Set a dirty respirator face-down on a lunch table
• Use your teeth to pull off gloves
• Leave disposable coveralls balled up in the truck cab
• Touch phones, door handles, or food before washing hands

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Cleaning and laundering

Reusable PPE and clothing

• Follow label and manufacturer wash instructions for gloves, boots, goggles, apron, and coveralls.
• Wash reusable pesticide clothing separately from family laundry.
• Use appropriate detergent and water temperature per guidance; run an extra rinse cycle if recommended for heavily soiled items.
• Do not overload machines; contaminated water should not create new household exposures—follow workplace laundry procedures when provided.
• Line-dry in a clean area when heat drying is not advised for the material.
• Clean chemical-resistant boots and reusable gloves after use; inspect for cracks after cleaning.

Respirators and eyewear

Clean reusable facepieces with mild soap and water or manufacturer wipes/solutions; rinse and air-dry. Remove cartridges if directed before washing the facepiece. Do not soak cartridges that are not designed to be washed.

When washing is not enough

If clothing or gear is heavily saturated with concentrate, or the material is disposable by design, dispose of it as directed rather than trying to “save” it through the home washer. Leather items contaminated with pesticide are often not restorable as safe PPE.

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Inspect before use

Every workday starts with inspection:

Do not start mix/load with defective PPE. Report gaps to the supervisor so replacements can be supplied—worker duty and employer duty meet at this checkpoint.

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Disposal of heavily contaminated or disposable PPE

• Dispose of heavily contaminated PPE as directed by the label, manufacturer, workplace procedure, and applicable waste rules.
• Disposable coveralls and single-use gloves used with pesticides should go into appropriate waste streams—not into household recycling wishfully.
• Do not treat open backyard burning of pesticide-contaminated materials as standard practice; it is unsafe and typically illegal.
• Keep disposal containers closed and away from children, pets, and food areas.

Lightly contaminated washable items may be cleaned and reused when the design allows. Know which category each item falls into before the job ends.

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Storage of clean PPE

Clean PPE needs a clean home:

• Store away from pesticide concentrates, open product containers, and spill-prone shelves
• Keep separate from food, drink, and lunch containers
• Use sealed bags or dedicated lockers for respirators and clean gloves when possible
• Do not leave clean gear on the floor of a spray truck next to measuring jugs
• Protect from sunlight and extreme heat that degrades plastics and elastomers if manufacturers warn against it

Dirty gear awaiting wash should be bagged or isolated so it does not contaminate the clean set. Labelling bins “CLEAN PPE” and “USED PPE” reduces mix-ups on multi-person crews.

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Full-day hygiene loop (puts Sections 6.1–6.4 together)

1. Read label → select minimum PPE for the task (6.1).
2. Inspect and don correct gloves, clothing, eyewear, respirator (6.2–6.3).
3. Work without defeating PPE (no face touching, no food with gloves on).
4. Doff in a safe order; wash hands (6.4).
5. Clean, launder, or dispose; store clean gear away from pesticides (6.4).
6. Shower and change before prolonged family contact after heavy handling days.

Skipping step 4 or 5 can erase the benefit of expensive respirators and chemical-resistant suits.

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Exam-style scenarios

Scenario A — Family laundry. After finishing application, contaminated PPE should not be worn home and washed with family laundry unsorted. Handle to avoid contaminating clean areas; clean or dispose per guidance.

Scenario B — Lunch storage. Storing PPE with lunch containers risks oral exposure—keep food and PPE separate.

Scenario C — Backyard fire. Open burning of pesticide-contaminated PPE is not a proper disposal method.

Scenario D — Gloves-last logic. Removing gloves first, then peeling a spray-soaked coverall with bare hands, recreates the dermal exposure the gloves were meant to prevent.

Scenario E — Incorrect PPE reuse. Wearing gloves with absorbent liners soaked with concentrate can increase dermal exposure by trapping pesticide against the skin—inspect and replace.

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Care-and-removal checklist

• Plan a decontamination area before you mix.
• Keep a supply of clean water, soap, bags for used disposables, and clean storage for reusable gear.
• Rinse reusable gloves, remove outer gear carefully, gloves last (or follow specialized training), wash hands.
• Launder reusable clothing separately from family wash.
• Inspect before the next use; dispose of ruined gear properly.
• Store clean PPE away from pesticides and food.

Master these habits and PPE becomes a reliable barrier instead of a mobile contamination source. Together with label minimums (6.1), correct body and eye protection (6.2), and proper respirators (6.3), care and removal complete the Core PPE system for Ontario OPT&C candidates.