Pesticide Gloves

You should always use proper gloves when mixing, loading and applying pesticides. Always read and follow the label directions. Chemical-resistant materials prevent certain chemicals from passing through the glove in order to protect your skin. Wearing gloves, along with other personal protective equipment, significantly reduces pesticide product from reaching your skin and hands.

• Read the pesticide label to determine if gloves are needed, and contact the pesticide manufacturer or vendor to determine what type of gloves you need
• Avoid touching clean surfaces while wearing contaminated gloves
• If pesticide gets inside your glove: Remove gloves immediately, wash hands thoroughly, and change gloves
• Other protective equipment to wear could include: coveralls, boots, and hats. Goggles and respirators may also be required. Always read the label to see what is required
• Avoid using chemical-resistant gloves with attached liners. If using cotton liners, they should be disposed of after use to avoid potential exposure to pesticides that may have been absorbed by the material
• Glove cuffs should go over your sleeves unless spraying downward
• A waterproof glove does not necessarily mean it is chemical-resistant
• Gloves are used to protect you from chemicals and pesticide solvents as well

Test your knowledge

Q1: Waterproof gloves such as ones used for washing dishes are appropriate to use while handling pesticides. True or false?

Q2: You should always determine what type and size of glove to use before handling pesticides. True or false?

Q3: Safety Precautions for reuseable gloves include:

1. Pouring water inside your gloves to test for holes
2. Replacing gloves on a regular schedule
3. Washing the gloves before taking them off of your hands
4. All of the above

Q4: Gloves must resist:

1. Toxic chemicals contained in pesticides
2. Pesticide solvent
3. Chemicals and solvent
4. Cotton liners

Choosing the right gloves

Gloves can be disposable, single-use or re-usable. For re-usable gloves, you should follow proper hygiene practices.

Appropriate glove material depends on the formulation of the pesticide, the active ingredient and the formulants that are in the product. Materials are not interchangeable. Recommended glove materials can include:

• Barrier Laminate
• Nitrile
• Butyl
• Neoprene
• Polyvinyl

Leather and fabric gloves absorb chemicals and are not chemical-resistant. Ensure that the gloves you are using are chemical-resistant.

There are many locations to buy chemically-resistant gloves including online stores and home and garden centres.

To find your glove size, measure the palm and front of your hand. For example, if your hand measures 10 inches, or 25 cm, your size is 10. Always try on the gloves.

Safety Precautions

Routine replacement on a regular schedule is a good idea. Ensure you cut up the gloves so they will not be reused once they are discarded.

If your gloves show signs of staining, softening, stiffening, dissolving, or leaking, these are signs that they should be replaced.

If pesticide gets inside the gloves while using them, wash your hands thoroughly and change gloves.

Adjust gloves according to the task. When spraying overhead, gloves should be folded with a cuff or extended over long sleeves so that the pesticides cannot be funneled in the gloves. Conversely, spraying downward requires long sleeves to extend over the gloves to prevent the pesticide from being channeled into the gloves.

Hygiene

Do not reuse disposable or single-use gloves. Make sure that you wash the outside of your gloves before removing them. To properly wash your gloves: use strong detergent, rinse under running water, and hang with a clothespin to dry. Do not wash with other clothing, and do not submerse the gloves under water otherwise the inside of the glove could become contaminated.

Pour water into your gloves to check and ensure there are no holes in them, and no chemicals will go through. You should do this after washing the gloves, to test if they are safe to continue using.

More questions? Contact us at the Pest Management Information Service

1-800-267-6315 or pmra.info-arla@hc-sc.gc.ca

Answers:

1. False 2. True 3. D 4. C