3.2 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Respirator Fit Testing

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the clothing and gear worn to shield your body from exposure to pesticides. It acts as the final barrier between you and chemical hazards. Under federal law (FIFRA) and Massachusetts state regulations (333 CMR 10.00), the label is the law, and you are legally required to wear the minimum PPE specified on the pesticide label. Failure to do so constitutes a violation of pesticide regulations and subjects the applicator to enforcement action by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).

Selecting PPE by Formulation and Task

PPE requirements vary based on the specific formulation of the pesticide and the task being performed. The hazard is highest during mixing and loading, where the applicator handles the undiluted product.

1. Liquid Formulations (especially Emulsifiable Concentrates - EC):

   • Emulsifiable concentrates contain organic petroleum solvents to dissolve the active ingredient. These solvents can quickly penetrate standard clothing, leather, and low-quality plastics.
   • Requirement: Always wear heavy-duty, solvent-resistant materials such as nitrile, butyl rubber, Viton, or barrier laminate. Avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or neoprene unless specifically allowed on the product label.

2. Dry Formulations (Wettable Powders - WP, Dry Flowables - DF, Dusts - D):

   • These formulations pose a severe inhalation hazard during mixing and loading because the dry particles readily become airborne.
   • Requirement: Wear particulate-filtering respirators and tight-fitting protective eyewear (goggles) to prevent dust from contacting the eyes and respiratory tract.

3. Granular Formulations (G):

   • Granules generally pose a lower inhalation risk but can bounce and land in boots or cuffs.
   • Requirement: Wear long pants outside of boots. Never tuck pants into boots, as this creates a funnel for granules or spills to slide directly into the footwear.

Understanding Chemical Resistance

Pesticide PPE must be chemical-resistant. This is defined as the ability of a material to prevent the measurable movement of a chemical through it during the period of use.

• Approved Materials: Nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, neoprene, barrier laminate, Viton, and heavy-duty PVC.
• NEVER Acceptable: Cotton, canvas, leather, and lined fabrics are highly absorbent. They act like sponges, absorbing pesticide liquids and trapping them directly against the skin, which dramatically increases dermal absorption. Leather boots and leather gloves must never be worn when handling pesticides (unless explicitly permitted for specific dry formulations).

Component-Specific PPE Guidelines

1. Gloves

• Unlined Nitrile or Neoprene: Gloves must be unlined. Flock-lined or fabric-lined gloves must never be used because the lining material absorbs pesticides and is impossible to clean. The contaminated lining acts as a constant exposure reservoir against your hands.
• Sleeve Position:
  • When spraying downward, wear sleeves outside the gloves to prevent liquid from running down your arm into the glove.
  • When spraying upward (e.g., tree canopy work), wear sleeves tucked into the gloves, and turn the cuffs of the gloves up to catch any drips.

2. Body Wear

• Coveralls: Made of tightly woven fabric or water-resistant synthetic material (e.g., Tyvek).
• Chemical-Resistant Apron: Must be worn over coveralls during mixing, loading, or cleaning equipment to protect the groin and torso from splashes of concentrated chemicals.

3. Footwear

• Wear unlined, chemical-resistant boots made of rubber or neoprene. Avoid leather and canvas.

4. Eye Protection

• Goggles, face shields, or full-face respirators. Safety glasses with side shields are acceptable only if specifically permitted by the label.

PPE Laundry and Disposal Guidelines

Proper maintenance of reusable PPE is vital to prevent chronic exposure. At the end of every application workday, reusable items must be thoroughly washed. Gloves should be washed with soap and water before you take them off to prevent contaminating your hands. Coveralls must be washed separately from the regular household laundry. Use hot water, a heavy-duty liquid detergent, and a long wash cycle. After washing, line-dry the clothing in the sun if possible, as sunlight helps break down any remaining pesticide residues. Run the washing machine through an empty cycle with hot water and detergent before using it for family laundry to clear any chemical residue. If a piece of clothing becomes saturated with pesticide concentrate during mixing or loading, it must be treated as hazardous waste and disposed of immediately. Do not attempt to wash saturated garments, as washing will not remove the chemical concentrate and will contaminate the washing machine.

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Respirator Fit Testing and Maintenance

Respirators protect you from inhaling toxic vapors, gases, and particulates. They must fit your face perfectly to function. If there is any gap in the seal, contaminated air will bypass the filters and enter your lungs.

Types of Respirators

1. Particulate-Filtering Respirators: Filter out dusts, mists, and sprays. Rated by the NIOSH system (e.g., N95, R95, P100).
   • N: Not resistant to oil.
   • R: Resistant to oil (up to 8 hours).
   • P: Oil-proof.
2. Chemical-Cartridge or Canister Respirators: Contain activated charcoal to absorb specific organic vapors or gases. They do not filter out dusts or mists unless equipped with a pre-filter.

Fit Testing Requirements

Before an applicator can use a respirator, they must undergo an annual Respirator Fit Testing program, as required by OSHA standards and the Worker Protection Standard (WPS).

1. Qualitative Fit Testing (QLFT): A subjective, pass/fail test. The test administrator introduces a harmless substance with a distinct odor or taste (such as isoamyl acetate, saccharin, or bitrex) while the wearer performs face movements. If the wearer smells or tastes the substance, the fit is inadequate.
2. Quantitative Fit Testing (QNFT): An objective, numerical test. A specialized instrument (like a Portacount) measures the actual concentration of particles both inside and outside the respirator facepiece to calculate a "fit factor."

User Seal Checks

An applicator must perform a user seal check every single time they put on a respirator. This is NOT a substitute for annual fit testing.

• Positive-Pressure Seal Check: Cover the exhalation valve with the palm of your hand and exhale gently. The facepiece should bulge slightly outward without any air escaping around the edges.
• Negative-Pressure Seal Check: Cover the inhalation inlets (cartridges) with the palms of your hands and inhale gently. The facepiece should collapse slightly inward and hold the vacuum for about 10 seconds without leaking.

Cleaning and Storage

• Cleaning: Wash the facepiece (with cartridges removed) in warm water with a mild detergent. Disinfect, rinse thoroughly in clean water, and air dry. Never use organic solvents, as they degrade the rubber facepiece.
• Storage: Store the respirator and cartridges in a clean, dry, airtight plastic bag (like a Ziploc bag) and keep it away from the pesticide storage area. If left exposed in a pesticide storage shed, the carbon cartridges will continuously absorb pesticide vapors from the ambient air, saturating the carbon and making them useless before their next use.