Safe Use of Pesticides (ILO, 1985, 52 p.): FOREWORD

Safe Use of Pesticides (ILO, 1985, 52 p.)

(introduction...)

FOREWORD

I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON PESTICIDES AND THEIR SAFE USE

1. Definitions

2. General considerations

3. Duties of manufacturers, sellers and users of pesticides

3.1 Duties of manufacturers

3.2 Duties of sellers

3.3 Duties of employers

3.4 Duties of supervisors

3.5 Duties of workers

4. Safety and health supervision

(introduction...)

4.1 Administrative supervision

4.2 Technical supervision

4.3 Medical supervision

5. Education and information

5.1 Education and training in the safe use of pesticides

5.2 Instruction on safe working practices

5.3 Instruction on emergency procedures

II. GENERAL SAFE PRACTICES IN THE USE OF PESTICIDES

1. Purchase and handling of packaged pesticides

2. Transport

3. Storage

4. Use

5. Disposal of surplus pesticide

6. Spillage

7. Disposal of empty containers

III. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, EQUIPMENT AND HYGIENE

1. Introductory comment

2. Typical protective clothing and equipment

(introduction...)

2.1 Head protection

2.2 Eye and face protection

2.3 Respiratory protective equipment

2.4 Gloves

2.5 Footwear

3. Working clothes

4. The need for personal hygiene

IV. SAFE USE OF PESTICIDES IN PARTICULAR SETTINGS

1. Onboard ship

1.1 General considerations

1.2 Insect control

(introduction...)

1.2.1 Precautions for insecticide spraying

1.2.2 Precautions in insecticide fumigation

1.3 Rodent control

(introduction...)

1.3.1 Rodent baits

1.3.2 Rodent fumigation

1.4 Pesticide treatment of food stores, galleys, passenger and crew accommodation

2. Aerial application of pesticides

2.1 Organisation and allocation of responsibilities

2.2 Ground facilities

2.3 Pilots

2.4 Groundcrew

2.5 Flagmen or ground markers

3. Use of pesticides on farms and agricultural land

3.1 Organisation and responsibilities

3.2 Safe working procedures

3.3 Protective clothing and equipment

3.4 Personal hygiene

3.5 Medical supervision and emergencies

4. Use of pesticides in greenhouses

5. Use of toxic baits

5.1 Introductory comment

5.2 Storage of bait poisons and toxic baits

5.3 Dispensing bait poisons and baits to inexperienced users

5.4 Bait application

6. Fumigation operations

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Fumigant storage

6.3 Fumigation operators

6.4 Preparation for fumigation

6.5 Fumigant release

6.6 Ventilation of fumigated spaces

6.7 Personal protective equipment for fumigators

6.8 Records of fumigation operations

7. Use of pesticides in vector control

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Supplies and equipment

7.3 Responsibility for safety and medical supervision

7.4 Protective equipment and personal hygiene in vector control

7.5 Container disposal in vector control

7.6 Spray material preparation

7.7 House treatment with residual sprays

7.8 Larvicide treatments

7.9 Pesticide application from ground vehicle and aircraft

7.10 Vector-control fumigation

7.11 Pesticide application to people for vector control

7.12 Special vector-control pesticide devices

8. Use of pesticides in homes and gardens

V. MEDICAL ASPECTS OF THE USE OF PESTICIDES

1. Health effects of pesticides

(introduction...)

1.1 Absorption of toxic pesticides

(introduction...)

1.1.1 Ingestion

1.1.2 Skin absorption

1.1.3 Inhalation

1.2 Relationship between mode of action and preventive measures

1.3 Signs and symptoms of poisoning by selected pesticides

2. General first-aid measures

OTHER TITLES IN THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH SERIES

FOREWORD

Over recent years there have been several suggestions that the International Labour Office (ILO) should prepare a series of basic guidelines on the safe handling of pesticides in agriculture. Furthermore, the need for such a document was specifically expressed at the 1964 ILO Meeting of Experts on Safety and Health in Agriculture and at the Fourth Session of the Joint ILO/WHO (World Health Organisation) Committee on Occupational Health, 1962.

In 1969 the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) published a set of guidelines for legislation on the registration of pesticides for marketing and sales, which had been prepared with the collaboration of the ILO and the WHO. This document laid upon the producer the obligation of indicating the toxicological action of a pesticide and the necessary safety measures to deal with the health hazards involved in the use of the product.

The present guidelines, which were prepared following preliminary consultations with FAO and WHO and circulated in draft form for the observations of members of the ILO Panel of Consultants on Safety and Health in Agriculture (representing government, employer and worker circles), provide guidance on the safe use of pesticides in agricultural work. It is hoped that the information will be of value to persons directly engaged in the handling and use of these substances as well as to persons having responsibility for organising their application.

General principles are given and followed by more detailed safety requirements for the various pesticide application techniques. Finally the medical aspects of pesticides are considered. It is recommended that this publication be read in conjunction with the chapters on dangerous substances and on personal protective equipment contained in the ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Agricultural Work, published in 1965 and in the ILO Guide to Safety in Agriculture, published in 1969.

The Office realises that it is difficult to cover fully in one volume the whole range of hazards encountered in the application of pesticides. It is hoped, however, that the information presented will improve and extend knowledge of these hazards and the understanding of the necessary preventive and protective measures. Suggestions from users of the guidelines on ways and means of improving it would be useful for any future work on its revision.