WAC 296-307-13045
Personal protective
equipment -- Standards for pesticide handlers -- 40 CFR, §
170.240. (1) Requirement. Any person who performs tasks as a
pesticide handler shall use the clothing and personal
protective equipment specified on the labeling for use of the
product.
(2) Definition.
(a) Personal protective equipment (PPE) means devices and
apparel that are worn to protect the body from contact with
pesticides or pesticide residues, including, but not limited
to, coveralls, chemical-resistant suits, chemical-resistant
gloves, chemical-resistant footwear, respiratory protection
devices, chemical-resistant aprons, chemical-resistant
headgear, and protective eyewear.
(b) Long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts, long
pants, short pants, shoes, socks, and other items of work
clothing are not considered personal protective equipment for
the purposes of this section and are not subject to the
requirements of this section, although pesticide labeling may
require that such work clothing be worn during some
activities.
(3) Provision. When personal protective equipment is
specified by the labeling of any pesticide for any handling
activity, the handler employer shall provide the appropriate
personal protective equipment in clean and operating condition
to the handler.
(a) When "chemical-resistant" personal protective
equipment is specified by the product labeling, it shall be
made of material that allows no measurable movement of the
pesticide being used through the material during use.
(b) When "waterproof" personal protective equipment is
specified by the product labeling, it shall be made of
material that allows no measurable movement of water or
aqueous solutions through the material during use.
(c) When a "chemical-resistant suit" is specified by the
product labeling, it shall be a loose-fitting, one-piece or
two-piece chemical-resistant garment that covers, at a
minimum, the entire body except head, hands, and feet.
(d) When "coveralls" are specified by the product
labeling, they shall be a loose-fitting, one-piece or
two-piece garment, such as a cotton or cotton and polyester
coverall, that covers, at a minimum, the entire body except
head, hands, and feet. The pesticide product labeling may
specify that the coveralls be worn over another layer of
clothing.
(e)(i) Gloves shall be of the type specified on the
pesticide product labeling. Gloves made of leather, cotton,
or other absorbent material shall not be worn while mixing,
loading, applying, or otherwise handling pesticides, unless
gloves made of these materials are listed as acceptable for
such use on the product labeling.
(ii) Separable glove liners may be worn beneath
chemical-resistant gloves, unless the pesticide product
labeling specifically prohibits their use. Separable glove
liners are defined as separate glove-like hand coverings, made
of lightweight material, with or without fingers. Work gloves
made from lightweight cotton or poly-type material are
considered to be glove liners if worn beneath
chemical-resistant gloves. Separable glove liners may not
extend outside the chemical-resistant gloves under which they
are worn. Chemical-resistant gloves with nonseparable
absorbent lining materials are prohibited.
(iii) If used, separable glove liners must be discarded
immediately after a total of no more than ten hours of use or
within twenty-four hours of when first put on, whichever comes
first. The liners must be replaced immediately if directly
contacted by pesticide. Used glove liners shall not be
reused. Contaminated liners must be disposed of in accordance
with any federal, state, or local regulations.
(f) When "chemical-resistant footwear" is specified by
the product labeling, one of the following types of footwear
must be worn:
(i) Chemical-resistant shoes.
(ii) Chemical-resistant boots.
(iii) Chemical-resistant shoe coverings worn over shoes
or boots.
(g) When "protective eyewear" is specified by the product
labeling, one of the following types of eyewear must be worn:
(i) Goggles.
(ii) Face shield.
(iii) Safety glasses with front, brow, and temple
protection.
(iv) Full-face respirator.
(h) When a "chemical-resistant apron" is specified by the
product labeling, an apron that covers the front of the body
from mid-chest to the knees shall be worn.
(i) When a respirator is specified by the product
labeling, it shall be appropriate for the pesticide product
used and for the activity to be performed. The handler
employer shall assure that the respirator fits correctly by
using the procedures consistent with chapter 296-307 WAC, Part
Y-5. If the label does not specify the type of respirator to
be used, it shall meet the requirements of chapter 296-307
WAC, Part Y-5. The respiratory protection requirements of
chapter 296-307 WAC, Part Y-5, shall apply.
(j) When "chemical-resistant headgear" is specified by
the product labeling, it shall be either a chemical-resistant
hood or a chemical-resistant hat with a wide brim.
(4) Exceptions to personal protective equipment specified
on product labeling.
(a) Body protection.
(i) A chemical-resistant suit may be substituted for
"coveralls," and any requirement for an additional layer of
clothing beneath is waived.
(ii) A chemical-resistant suit may be substituted for
"coveralls" and a chemical-resistant apron.
(b) Boots. If chemical-resistant footwear with
sufficient durability and a tread appropriate for wear in
rough terrain is not obtainable, then leather boots may be
worn in such terrain.
(c) Gloves. If chemical-resistant gloves with sufficient
durability and suppleness are not obtainable, then during
handling activities with roses or other plants with sharp
thorns, leather gloves may be worn over chemical-resistant
glove liners. However, once leather gloves are worn for this
use, thereafter they shall be worn only with
chemical-resistant liners and they shall not be worn for any
other use.
(d) Closed systems. If handling tasks are performed
using properly functioning systems that enclose the pesticide
to prevent it from contacting handlers or other persons, and
if such systems are used and are maintained in accordance with
that manufacturer's written operating instructions, exceptions
to labeling-specified personal protective equipment for the
handling activity are permitted as provided in (d)(i) and (ii)
of this subsection.
(i) Persons using a closed system to mix or load
pesticides with a signal word of DANGER or WARNING may substitute
a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, socks,
chemical-resistant apron, and any protective gloves specified
on the labeling for handlers for the labeling-specified
personal protective equipment.
(ii) Persons using a closed system to mix or load
pesticides other than those in (d)(i) of this subsection or to
perform other handling tasks may substitute a long-sleeved
shirt, long pants, shoes, and socks for the labeling-specified
personal protective equipment.
(iii) Persons using a closed system that operates under
pressure shall wear protective eyewear.
(iv) Persons using a closed system shall have all
labeling-specified personal protective equipment immediately
available for use in an emergency.
(e) Enclosed cabs. If handling tasks are performed from
inside a cab that has a nonporous barrier which totally
surrounds the occupants of the cab and prevents contact with
pesticides outside of the cab, exceptions to personal
protective equipment specified on the product labeling for
that handling activity are permitted as provided in (e)(i)
through (iv) of this subsection.
(i) Persons occupying an enclosed cab may substitute a
long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, and socks for the
labeling-specified personal protective equipment. If a
respiratory protection device is specified on the pesticide
product labeling for the handling activity, it must be worn.
(ii) Persons occupying an enclosed cab that has a
properly functioning ventilation system which is used and
maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's written
operating instructions and which is declared in writing by the
manufacturer and by the Washington state department of labor
and industries to provide respiratory protection equivalent to
or greater than a dust/mist filtering respirator may
substitute a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, and socks
for the labeling-specified personal protective equipment. If
a respiratory protection device other than a
dust/mist-filtering respirator is specified on the pesticide
product labeling, it must be worn.
(iii) Persons occupying an enclosed cab that has a
properly functioning ventilation system which is used and
maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's written
operating instructions and which is declared in writing by the
manufacturer and by the Washington state department of labor
and industries to provide respiratory protection equivalent to
or greater than the vapor-removing or gas-removing respirator
specified on pesticide product labeling may substitute a
long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, and socks for the
labeling-specified personal protective equipment. If an
air-supplying respirator or a self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA) is specified on the pesticide product
labeling, it must be worn.
(iv) Persons occupying an enclosed cab shall have all
labeling-specified personal protective equipment immediately
available and stored in a chemical-resistant container, such
as a plastic bag. They shall wear such personal protective
equipment if it is necessary to exit the cab and contact
pesticide-treated surfaces in the treated area. Once personal
protective equipment is worn in the treated area, it must be
removed before reentering the cab.
(f) Aerial applications.
(i) Use of gloves. The wearing of chemical-resistant
gloves when entering or leaving an aircraft used to apply
pesticides is optional, unless such gloves are required on the
pesticide product labeling. If gloves are brought into the
cockpit of an aircraft that has been used to apply pesticides,
the gloves shall be kept in an enclosed container to prevent
contamination of the inside of the cockpit.
(ii) Open cockpit. Persons occupying an open cockpit
shall use the personal protective equipment specified in the
product labeling for use during application, except that
chemical-resistant footwear need not be worn. A helmet may be
substituted for chemical-resistant headgear. A visor may be
substituted for protective eyewear.
(iii) Enclosed cockpit. Persons occupying an enclosed
cockpit may substitute a long-sleeved shirt, long pants,
shoes, and socks for labeling-specified personal protective
equipment.
(g) Crop advisors. Crop advisors entering treated areas
while a restricted-entry interval is in effect may wear the
personal protective equipment specified on the pesticide
labeling for early entry activities instead of the personal
protective equipment specified on the pesticide labeling for
handling activities, provided:
(i) Application has been completed for at least four
hours.
(ii) Any inhalation exposure level listed in the labeling
has been reached or any ventilation criteria established by
WAC 296-307-12015 (3)(c) or in the labeling have been met.
(5) Use of personal protective equipment.
(a) The handler employer shall assure that personal
protective equipment is used correctly for its intended
purpose and is used according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
(b) The handler employer shall assure that, before each
day of use, all personal protective equipment is inspected for
leaks, holes, tears, or worn places, and any damaged equipment
is repaired or discarded.
(6) Cleaning and maintenance.
(a) The handler employer shall assure that all personal
protective equipment is cleaned according to the
manufacturer's instructions or pesticide product labeling
instructions before each day of reuse. In the absence of any
such instructions, it shall be washed thoroughly in detergent
and hot water.
(b) If any personal protective equipment cannot be
cleaned properly, the handler employer shall dispose of the
personal protective equipment in accordance with any
applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Coveralls
or other absorbent materials that have been drenched or
heavily contaminated with an undiluted pesticide that has the
signal word DANGER or WARNING on the label shall be not be
reused.
(c) The handler employer shall assure that contaminated
personal protective equipment is kept separately and washed
separately from any other clothing or laundry.
(d) The handler employer shall assure that all clean
personal protective equipment shall be either dried thoroughly
before being stored or shall be put in a well ventilated place
to dry.
(e) The handler employer shall assure that all personal
protective equipment is stored separately from personal
clothing and apart from pesticide-contaminated areas.
(f) The handler employer shall assure that when dust/mist
filtering respirators are used, the filters shall be replaced:
(i) When breathing resistance becomes excessive.
(ii) When the filter element has physical damage or
tears.
(iii) According to manufacturer's recommendations or
pesticide product labeling, whichever is more frequent.
(iv) In the absence of any other instructions or
indications of service life, at the end of each day's work
period.
(g) The handler employer shall assure that when
gas-removing or vapor-removing respirators are used, the
gas-removing or vapor-removing canisters or cartridges shall
be replaced:
(i) At the first indication of odor, taste, or
irritation.
(ii) According to manufacturer's recommendations or
pesticide product labeling, whichever is more frequent.
(iii) In the absence of any other instructions or
indications of service life, at the end of each day's work
period.
(h) The handler employer shall inform any person who
cleans or launders personal protective equipment:
(i) That such equipment may be contaminated with
pesticides.
(ii) Of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to
pesticides.
(iii) Of the correct way(s) to clean personal protective
equipment and to protect themselves when handling such
equipment.
(i) The handler employer shall assure that handlers have
a clean place(s) away from pesticide storage and pesticide use
areas where they may:
(i) Store personal clothing not in use.
(ii) Put on personal protective equipment at the start of
any exposure period.
(iii) Remove personal protective equipment at the end of
any exposure period.
(j) The handler employer shall not allow or direct any
handler to wear home or to take home personal protective
equipment contaminated with pesticides.
(7) Heat-related illness. When the use of personal
protective equipment is specified by the labeling of any
pesticide for the handling activity, the handler employer
shall assure that no handler is allowed or directed to perform
the handling activity unless appropriate measures are taken,
if necessary, to prevent heat-related illness.
Note:
Additional requirements in WAC 296-307-097, Outdoor heat exposure, may apply between May 1st and September
30th of each year. See Part G-1.