Which precaution should be taken in addition to wearing PPE to reduce exposure to pesticides?

• A. Never eat, drink or smoke while handling pesticides and wash your hands after handling pesticides
• B. Eat before handling pesticides
• C. Only wash your hands after handling pesticides
• D. Take a shower at the end of each work day and use common sense

Answer: (A)

Preventing exposure relies on hygiene practices in addition to PPE. Pesticide residues can stay on skin or surfaces you touch, so eating, drinking, or smoking while handling pesticides provides a direct route for the chemical to enter your body. The most effective added precaution is to keep food and drinks out of the handling area and to wash your hands after handling pesticides. Handwashing removes residue from the skin, reduces the chance of dermal absorption, and prevents transferring residues to your mouth or to other surfaces. Showering at the end of the day helps cleanliness but doesn’t address the immediate exposure risk during handling, and vague phrases like “use common sense” aren’t specific enough to prevent exposure. Eating before handling would introduce residues, and washing only after handling doesn’t protect against contamination that occurs before washing.