Despite being an essential tool in reducing farmworkers’ exposure to agrochemicals, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) might not always be effective. A study by Garrigou et al. (2011) on using PPE in French vineyards showed that wearing PPE could have the opposite effect, potentially leading to higher levels of exposure. The study found that wearing PPE to apply pesticides and during clean-ups was associated with higher contamination levels among research subjects.

 

The main reason for this observation was the permeability of the protective clothing. Permeation is the process where “a chemical product crosses through a material at [the] molecular level” (Garrigou et al., 2011, p.326). It happens when a chemical molecule is absorbed into a contact surface, diffused through the material, and desorbed from the opposite side.

 

The study found that coverall materials used in the vineyard were unresistant to chemical permeation. The coverall material performed poorly against five common herbicides used in the vineyard. All five products could permeate the coverall material within 10 minutes, even when the chemicals were diluted.

 

Other possible explanations for higher levels of contamination include the pre-contamination of the PPE and the inaccurate perception of PPE effectiveness in providing protection. Pre-contamination could take place when farmers reuse their PPE without thoroughly cleaning it beforehand. Inaccurate perceptions of PPE effectiveness is especially dangerous because they could create a false sense of security among farmworkers. Consequently, this false sense of security could lead to complacency among farmworkers in taking safety precautions during their work.

 

The findings of this study are puzzling because it goes against common assumptions that PPE are supposed to provide some form of protection, not do more harm. It goes to show the complexity of managing occupational safety in agriculture. Ensuring farm safety is not as straightforward as wearing PPE and it can go beyond individual control. There is a serious need to re-think the approval process for new agrochemicals and abandon the assumption that PPE will always provide protection.

 

References:

Garrigou, A., Baldi, I., Le Frious, P., Anselm, R., & Vallier, M. (2011). Ergonomics contribution to chemical risks prevention: An ergotoxicological investigation of the effectiveness of coverall against plant pest risk in viticulture. Applied Ergonomics, 42(2), 321-330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2010.08.001