REQUIRED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN HORTICULTURAL WORK

REQUIRED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN HORTICULTURAL WORK

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to any specialized equipment or clothing worn by farmers and farm workers for protection against health and safety hazards. PPE is designed to protect many parts of the body; eyes, head, face, hands, feet, ears, or torso. PPE does not prevent accidents, but it does prevent or reduce injury and even fatalities when used.

PPE not only helps people but also improves productivity. Farm workers can benefit from using the appropriate protective equipment for themselves, family members, and workers when the job and its potential hazards call for it. Protective equipment must be carefully selected. Test fit the protective equipment to be sure of a proper and comfortable fit. If it isn’t comfortable – it won’t be worn; if it isn’t worn – it won’t protect.

1. Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
in Horticultural Work

2. What Is It
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to any
specialized equipment or clothing worn by farmers
and farm workers for protection against health
and safety hazards. PPE is designed to protect
many parts of the body; eyes, head, face, hands,
feet, ears, or torso. PPE does not prevent
accidents, but it does prevent or reduce injury
and even fatalities when used.

3. Definitions of Equipment Protection:
Eye and Face Protection – to provide protection
during exposure to hazards like Flying particles,
metals or sparks, liquid chemicals, caustic
liquids, light radiation, i.e., welding lasers.
Hearing Protection – to provide protection during
exposure to high pitch and loud noise levels
Respiratory Protection – to provide protection
from inhalation hazards such as vapors, mists,
particulates, pesticides and gases.

4. Definitions of Equipment Protection:
Hand Protection – to provide protection during
exposure to potential hazards such as sharp
objects, abrasive surfaces, temperatures
extremes and chemical contact.
Head Protection – to provide protection to
potential hazards such as falling objects,
striking against low-hanging objects, electrical
hazards, or chemical application

5. Definitions of Equipment Protection:
Hearing Protection – to provide protection during
exposure to high pitch and loud noise levels
Respiratory Protection – to provide protection
from inhalation hazards such as vapors, mists,
particulates, pesticides and gases.
Definitions of Equipment Protection:
Foot Protection - to provide protection for
situations with the potential of injuries such as
falling or rolling objects, chemical or liquid
exposures, piercing objects, and where feet are
exposed to electrical hazards
Clothing Protection – to provide protection from
potential hazards such as entanglement, skin
cancer, bodily injury, and pesticide contamination

6.  For covering the nose and mouth
to protect from dust and
chemicals 
For protecting inhalation of
dust particles and Chemical
fumes
FACE MASK
Protecting the hands to
pointed objects and for
mixing manure
GLOVES
 Protecting the feet from
pointed objects
RUBBER BOOTS
Protection from the rain,
pesticide contamination
RAINCOAT
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

7.  Heat protection  Hat
for protecting the head from
sunlight and drizzle
HAT
Offers good protection against
front and side impact. 
Protection from unvented or
indirect vented chemical splash

Provides protection from
chemical vapors and liquids.
Googles
Offers protection from
falling objects and
electrical shocks
hard hat
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

8. W
H
A
T

T
O

L
O
O
K

F
O
R
?

9. WHAT TO
L
O
O
K

F
O
R
?
GLOVES
Don’t use the kind of
rubber gloves you’d use to
do the dishes! These won’t
protect you.
Don’t use leather gloves!
They may be tough, but
leather will absorb
pesticides and cannot be
properly cleaned..

10. WHAT TO
L
O
O
K

F
O
R
?
BOOTS
Be careful what kind of
rubber boots you choose.
Common rubber boots have
a lining. .
Unlined rubber boots
provide the best protection.
Don’t wear work boots.
Leather and canvas absorb
pesticides and cannot be
properly cleaned..

11. WHAT TO
L
O
O
K

F
O
R
?
HATS
Make sure there is no cloth
or leather band inside your
hat. The band will absorb
pesticide and hold it against
your skin
Wear a wide-brimmed, unlined
hat to protect your head and
neck. If wearing a rubber rain
hat, make sure it does not have
a cloth lining.

12. WHAT TO
L
O
O
K

F
O
R
?
COVERALLS
A spray suit will cover your work clothes and keep you protected from exposure. 
The kind of coveralls designed for dust and dirt can absorb pesticides.
They may only be used when the label does not specify using chemical resistant
coveralls, and when a 2nd layer of clothing will provide adequate protection
Don’t use regular work clothes if there is a chance your clothes will become wet with
pesticide spray

13. WHAT TO
L
O
O
K

F
O
R
?
COVERALLS
A spray suit will cover your work clothes and keep you protected from exposure. 
The kind of coveralls designed for dust and dirt can absorb pesticides.
They may only be used when the label does not specify using chemical resistant
coveralls, and when a 2nd layer of clothing will provide adequate protection
Don’t use regular work clothes if there is a chance your clothes will become wet with
pesticide spray

14. PPE not only helps people but also improves productivity. Farm
workers can benefit from using the appropriate protective equipment
for themselves, family members, and workers when the job and its
potential hazards call for it. Protective equipment must be carefully
selected. Test fit the protective equipment to be sure of a proper and
comfortable fit. If it isn’t comfortable – it won’t be worn; if it isn’t worn
– it won’t protect.
Controlling a hazard at its source is the best way to protect workers.
Use of worksite modification or work tasks as the best control to
manage or eliminate hazards. When these controls are not feasible or
do not provide sufficient protection, then PPE should be employed
If it isn’t worn – it won’t protecT

15. Assessing and controlling hazards is a careful look at what, in the operation, could cause harm to
people… the operator, family members, workers, guests… so that one can decide whether enough
precautions have been taken or should be done. If the hazards cannot be eliminated; then protecting
people is what matters. To do this, a risk assessment of the farm is helpful.
Step 1: What are the hazards? A hazard is anything that might cause harm,
such as working from ladders or working around electricity. The risk is
the chance that someone could be harmed by these hazards.
Assessing and controlling hazards

16. Spot hazards by walking around the workplace and
watching how people work.
Learn from experience. Think about past accidents
to see if there are less obvious hazards.
Ask people who work on
Assessing and controlling hazards

17. Step 2: Who might be harmed and how? For each hazard, decide who is most
vulnerable to be injured… employees, seasonal workers, family (especially
children), the public. Think on how they might be injured.
Step 3: Weigh the risks and decide on precautions. For each hazard you need
to look at what is already being done; the controls that are in place; and the
way work is organized.
Step 4: Put the results into practice. A risk assessment is not the end in
itself. It will not stop someone from being injured, or made ill, or dying. Make
sure everyone who works on the farm understands the controls you have
put into place
Assessing and controlling hazards

18. A risk assessment is an important step in protecting
people, and the business, as well as complying with
applicable laws. It helps one focus on the risks that
really matter… the ones that can cause real harm
Step 5: Check that controls stay in place and
review the assessment. No workplace remains
the same. Eventually new equipment will be
purchased or ways of working have changed
that might bring in new hazards. Conduct a
risk assessment on an annual basis
Assessing and controlling hazards

19. How to wear your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

20. How to wear your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

21. and thank you for listening