All Farm Base

Protective Clothing

Protective Clothing

Workers, visitors and subcontractors must be equipped with complete sets of appropriate protective clothing whenever they are in a situation that might cause harm to their health and safety. (AF 3.5)

Examples of protective clothing include the following items:

  • Rubber boots
  • Boots with steel bars
  • Rubber gloves
  • Face masks
  • Respiratory equipment (including replacement filters)
  • Ear protection devices
  • Protective goggles
  • Life jackets
  • Overalls
Respiratory Mask

Inspectors must check that all protective clothing is in a good condition and used according to the label instructions. When protective clothing is a legal requirement or a requirement authorized by a competent authority, inspectors must verify that all the legal requirements are met. (AF 3.5.1)

In many cases, protective clothing may be reused. The label instructions normally contain information on reusability as well as on how to wash and store them. Protective clothing and equipment must never be washed or cleaned together with private clothing, and re-usable gloves must be washed before removal.

All items that are designed for single use only must be disposed of after one use. Dirty, damaged, depleted or expired protective clothing or equipment (e.g. old filter cartridges) must be disposed of appropriately.

Respiratory Mask

Protective clothing and equipment shall never be stored inside the plant protection product storage facility and shall be kept completely separate from any other chemicals that might cause contamination of the clothing or equipment. In the same way, protective clothing must not contaminate any of the products. (AF 3.5.2)

Question (QQAF035)
When the CB inspector asks the producer about the cleaning of the re-usable protective clothing, the producer replies that the operators take their clothing home after they have sprayed and always ensure it is clean when the next application is being done. They also sign out the sets of protective clothing when they take them home and the supervisor checks if the clothing is indeed clean when they return it. Is this a suitable practice?
Yes
No
Question (QQAF036)
During the inspection of the PPP store, the CB inspector notices that the carbon mask the storekeeper uses when he works inside the store is kept at the entrance inside the PPP storeroom. This way the storekeeper cannot forget to take the mask with him. Is this suitable?
Yes
No
Question (QQAF037)
When the CB inspector inspects the Plant Protection Product (PPP) store he notices that the protective clothing used during PPP applications is stored within a steel cupboard inside the PPP store. Is this allowed?
Yes
No
Question (QQAF038)
During the on-site inspection the CB inspector notices that the PPP spray team is not using any masks. The supervisor explains that because the wind is coming from the opposite direction, masks are not required when knapsack sprayers are used. Do you think this is sufficient?
Yes, because the risk of chemical contamination is lowered by the wind.
No, because it is not a good practice to spray when the wind is blowing.
No, because protective clothing must always be worn in accordance with the legal and label requirements.
Yes, regarding the protective clothing as such, as it is sufficient if the label on the plant protection product states that no protective clothing is needed.
Yes, but only if the spray team members are subcontractors because the producer is not responsible for these workers.
Correct!
Incorrect!

This is not a suitable practice, as the producer does not have any control over the conditions under which the protective clothing is cleaned and cannot verify whether it is always washed separately from private clothing. This is indeed a risk as some households have babies and children.

Correct!
Incorrect!

No protective clothing is allowed to be stored inside the PPP, not even at the entrance.

Correct!
Incorrect!

No protective clothing is allowed to be stored inside the PPP store.

Correct!
Incorrect!

Workers applying PPPs must always be equipped with suitable protective clothing (e.g. overalls, raincoats, masks, gloves, etc.) as required by the label and by law. It is not good practice to spray PPPs when the wind is blowing because of the risk of drift to areas where no PPP application is needed.