Protective Gear

Before application commences, the person applying for the CPPs must be adequately supplied with protective clothing and safety equipment. The degree of protection required will depend on the type of chemical; e.g. if a Group 1 chemical is applied with a mist blower, full protection for the tractor driver is required, while minimum protection is required for a Group 4 chemical applied via the soil drench method.

Maximum protection includes:

• Cotton overall
• Rain hat, raincoat and trousers
• Gumboots and goggles
• Respirator, with an appropriate cartridge
• Rubber gloves

Minimum protection includes:

• Cotton overall
• Gumboots
• Rubber gloves

Application Of Crop Protection

Once all the necessary preparations for the application of the spraying material have been made, the following steps are taken:

Mist Blowers

• The mist blower is attached to a tractor and the PTO is connected.
• The spraying machine is filled with water and the chosen discs and spinners are inserted into the nozzles.
• The pH of the water is checked to determine whether a buffering agent is required.
• The spraying machine is tested in the orchard/field with water to determine whether the theoretical calibration that was done initially gives the correct spray coverage to the tree/field, measured by observation.
• Minor adjustments are usually necessary to ensure good coverage and to prevent wastage of spraying material.
• The spraying material is mixed in the spray tank as prescribed.
• Before spraying starts, the protective clothing of the tractor driver is checked.
• Full instructions are given to the driver regarding the correct gear that the tractor should be in, the pump pressure required, and where the accelerator should be set in order to attain the correct PTO revolutions (540rpm).

Handguns and Knapsacks

The spraying material is prepared in the same way as described above. The manner in which it is applied depends on the type and model of the equipment used. Please follow the manufacturers’ instructions.

Soil Drench

• In soil drench applications, the chemical is prepared, and the correct quantity is measured in a container.
• The chemical is then poured around the base of the tree, around the trunk in an even manner or as per labelled instructions.

Trunk Applications

Trunk applications vary somewhat depending on the product. Generally, the chemical is painted onto the trunk of the tree.

The instructions of the manufacturer must be followed carefully with trunk applications.

Important Notes

• The climatic conditions that must be taken into account for foliar applications are wind, rain, dew and temperature.
• If the wind is too strong during the application, it will result in spray drift that may harm the environment and water sources. (Other people in the vicinity?)
• Trees must not be wet when they are sprayed, as this will dilute the spraying material and make the chemicals less effective.
• If the spraying material contains oil, it must not be applied when it is too hot, as it can burn the fruit. Certain chemicals are also sensitive to ultraviolet light.
• Spraying equipment must be calibrated before being used to ensure that the spraying material will be applied at the correct rate.
• The most important step in the calibration of mist blowers is selecting the correct combination of spinners and discs to deliver the correct volume of spray.
• The tractor driver, or any person that applies spraying material, must wear the appropriate protective gear and clothing for the chemicals that are being applied.
• For foliar applications, the mist blower is connected to the tractor, set up and tested, and then filled with spraying material. Full instructions must be given to the tractor driver.
• Applications with handguns and knapsacks are done according to the manufacturers’ instructions.
• The methods used for trunk and soil applications depend on the product and are according to the manufacturers’ instructions.

Health And Safety During Pesticide Application

Not all pesticides kill in the same way. Pesticides kill by disrupting or interfering with some vital function of the pest needed for it to survive. This is called the pesticide’s mode of action. For, example, the mode of action of many insecticides is interfering with the insect’s nervous system. It is important to know a pesticide’s mode of action as this is the same way in which humans could be harmed by pesticides. Therefore, pesticides can be very dangerous to humans.

Risks associated with exposure to pesticides:

Damage to the Nerves

• Headache, dizziness and weakness
• Tremors
• A lot of spittle developing, sweating, tearing of eyes
• Blurred vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tingling fingers
• Numbness
• Convulsions

Damage to the Lungs

• Difficulty breathing
• Lungs fill up with fluid
• Failure to breathe leads to death

Damage to Skin

• Rashes

Damage to Eyes

• Eye irritations

Chronic pesticide exposure is linked to increased risks of developing cancer and disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Some chronic effects may be:

• Permanent eye damage
• Developing allergies and/or asthma
• Cancer 9e.g. leukaemia, brain tumours)
• Effects on the immune system
• Birth defects
• Not able to have children
• Developmental problems in children
• Neurological diseases
• Lung, liver and kidney problems
• Parkinson’s disease

Some factors make people more susceptible to developing pesticide-related diseases, these include:

• Children who are still developing/growing are very vulnerable to long term effects
• Drinking alcohol
• If the person has a liver disease
• Being undernourished for a long time
• Pregnant women
• Occupation (e.g. farmers, pesticide applicators and mixers, greenhouse workers)
• Women and men of childbearing age
• Elderly
• Individuals with allergies, asthma or other respiratory diseases
• Individuals who are HIV positive or have AIDS
• Individuals with TB
• Individuals who are chemically sensitive
• Individuals who are chronically ill
• Individuals with genetic variations that lead to increased susceptibility

How are Farmers Exposed to Pesticides?

There are many ways in which farmers can be exposed to pesticides and their harmful effects:

• Chemicals are used in the home to control cockroaches, ants, flies, bed bugs, etc.
• Chemicals used in agriculture – producing crops
• Food that you eat may have pesticide residues
• Pesticides in the water you drink

The four main ways that pesticides enter farmers’ bodies are through getting pesticides on the skin, drinking/swallowing pesticides; pesticide splashes getting in the eyes and breathing in pesticides in the air.

How Do Pesticides Enter The Body?

• Through the skin (dermal)
• Through the mouth (oral)
• Through the lungs (respiratory)
• Through the eyes (ocular)

Some ways of being exposed are:

• Handling/mixing pesticides, especially if you are not using gloves, respirator, plastic coveralls and boots
• When applying pesticides to the field, etc
• Drinking contaminated water
• Eating food that has pesticides on or in them
• Dipping animals in pesticides
• Wearing a dust mask rather than a respirator (may breathe in pesticide if the mask is wet)
• Wearing improper gloves (e.g. latex gloves do not provide protection)
• Breathing in pesticides fumes that we or others spray
• Touching crops, flowers or other surfaces that have been sprayed
• Drinking water that has pesticides in it
• Walking barefoot on surfaces that have been sprayed
• Walking bare-legged in wet fields where the pesticides get onto the legs from the wet plants
• Eating food that has pesticide residues in them
• Chemicals used in our homes
• Reusing pesticides containers, especially for storing water

Exposure Reduction

To avoid dangerous exposures to pesticides and potential health effects, learn and practice the following:

• First, make sure that you have a pest problem that requires treatment. A few pests are not always a problem. Learn to identify your pests and how many pests are okay without treatment. Contact the ARC (Agricultural Research Council) for advice on how to “scout’ for pests.
• Remove pests by hand where possible.
• If you need to treat, first find out what alternatives to pesticides you can use such as a product containing pyrethrum and rotenone. Contact the ARC, the Gaia Research Institute or the Surplus People Project.
• Non-chemical pest control measures should always be used first. These include sanitation, irrigation, manual weeding and pest removal.

If you do use pesticides, be sure to follow these tips:

Label

• Read the label or get someone to treat you before using any pesticide.
• Make sure you understand the health risks and precautions you need to take.
• Identify the colour code. How hazardous is the product you want to use? Can you protect yourself and others? If not, don’t use it.
• Never put pesticides in any other container than the one it came in and make sure the label is always on it.
• If you or someone else is poisoned, take the label with you and get medical help.

Pesticides

• Only use the pesticide for what it says it will kill.
• Keep pesticides in their original containers with the label and tightly sealed.
• Do not mix pesticides or use more than one at a time.
• Do not mix different pesticides together.
• Do not use things to mix the pesticides that come from your kitchen or home and make sure you mark the tool you use with a danger sign.
• Mix pesticides away from water sources, children, and not in any place people live in.
• Store pesticides away from children, animals and water sources.
• Do NOT transport pesticides next to the driver or passengers.

PPE

• Use personal protection equipment (PPE) properly when pesticide use is considered necessary.
• Make sure you are using the right PPE for that particular pesticide. For example, a red colour code on a label will require a respirator, not a dust mask to prevent getting sick.

Application

• Use the correct equipment for applying pesticides and make sure it does not leak on you or the soil.
• DO NOT spray pesticides on a windy day.
• Drop a leaf to find out the wind direction and make sure you spray so that wind is hitting your back.
• Make sure when spraying pesticides that house windows are closed, and no children, animals or water sources are nearby and can be contaminated.
• Only apply pesticides early in the morning or in the later afternoon – never during the day, especially when it is hot. The pesticide can become more dangerous.
• Do not enter a sprayed field until all the plants and soil are no longer wet from pesticides.
• When using a pesticide can for spraying (e.g. Doom), cover your hand with a glove or plastic bag (throw the bag out after spraying where it won’t cause contamination) to avoid skin contact with the poison. Use a mask to avoid breathing in the spray mist from the can.

After Use

• Wash body and equipment away from water sources and home every time after using pesticides.
• Wash pesticide clothes after each use.
• Do not wash pesticide-contaminated clothes with non-pesticide clothes.
• NEVER pour pesticides or put empty containers down the drain or into the toilet or into stormwater drains or into rivers, reservoirs or dams.
• Let everyone around you know when you are using pesticides, so they can protect themselves.
• Do not reuse pesticide containers.
• It is against the law to burn or bury empty pesticide containers. Burning can release toxic fumes and bury contaminates water sources.
• Take triple rinsed containers back to where you bought it

Storage

Store pesticides in a locked room that is not part of your home and make sure children or others cannot open the room or find the key.

Do not leave pesticides, sprayers or containers lying around – lock these away.