Protective equipment for spraying — what to wear, when to wear it, and what does not help

Most people think the dangerous moment is spraying, so they wear a mask while spraying and take it off while mixing, when in fact the opposite is true. Mixing is the one moment your hands handle concentrated product straight from the bottle, and it is when splashes happen most often.

Mixing: the highest level of protection

Impermeable rubber gloves that reach above the wrist. Cloth or knitted gloves do nothing at all. On the contrary, they soak up the chemical and hold it against your skin.

Goggles or a clear face shield, because pouring and stirring are when splashes can hit your face.

A long-sleeved shirt, long trousers and rubber boots. Never wear sandals.

A mask that filters vapours, if the label says so. Cloth masks or surgical masks block dust but not solvent vapours.

Spraying

If spraying with a backpack sprayer, you need full protection as when mixing, because spray drifts back onto you the whole time.

If spraying with a drone, the pilot stays away from the spraying point and upwind, so the risk is much lower. But you still need gloves and goggles, not because of the spray going out, but because you still handle the tank and equipment that have product residue on them.

After spraying

Take off the clothes you sprayed in before entering the house. Never sit down to eat or hold your child in those clothes.

Always wash spraying clothes separately from other clothes. Washing them together spreads the chemical to the whole household's clothing.

Shower and wash your hair as soon as you finish work, not later in the evening.

What does not help

A pha khao ma (Thai loincloth) over the nose, disposable surgical masks, cloth gloves and thin raincoats that tear easily. These give a feeling of being protected, which is more dangerous than knowing you are not protected.

The most neglected point

Never blow into a blocked nozzle with your mouth. This is the most common cause of direct exposure in spraying work. Rinse it with clean water or clear it with a needle instead.
Important note
This article explains general safety principles. It is not a recommendation to use any particular chemical. Mixing rates, the crops a product may be used on and the waiting periods required differ by product and change with government notifications. Always treat the product label as the authority, and consult an agricultural specialist or our staff before deciding to use it.