Engineering Controls in Pesticide Application Technology to Help Reduce Exposure and Risk Levels in Spraying

Abstract

The heavy reliance on PPE as a safety control factor for workers involved in pesticide operations is well documented. Employers have not fully explored engineering and other controls before settling on PPE as a control factor. The OSH Act clearly says the need to use PPE “as a last resort”, however if no thoughts are given to engineering controls on spraying equipment and doing a risk assessment, the exposure to these risks are even much greater. Knapsack sprayers made with simple modifications and change in accessories like nozzles and calibrator Cf valves can improve safety tremendously. This paper will identify the approach by Malaysian manufacturers and distributors of spray applicators to design engineering safety considerations into spray technology in order to ensure the spray equipment complies with the safety requirements of OSH Act 1994 for two widely used handheld sprayers. Keywords: Improvements, engineering controls, safety, conventional knapsack sprayer (CKS), control droplet applicators (CDA), personal protective equipments (PPE).