4
s
ectiOn
2 — i
MpOrtant
s
afe
O
peratiOn
p
ractices
Always have proper footing on slopes and hill sides and
13.
never operate when conditions are slippery. Be very careful
on wet grass.
Always keep both hands on the handles.
14.
Be careful when crossing gravel paths or road- ways.
15.
Never leave the machine unattended without placing the
16.
ground speed control levers in neutral, engaging the park
brake, shutting off the engine and closing the fuel shutoff
valve.
Always park the unit and start the engine on a level surface
17.
with the ground speed control levers in neutral, and the
park brake engaged.
If you hit a solid object while spreading/spraying, place the
18.
ground speed control levers in neutral, engage the park
brake and stop the engine. Disconnect the spark plug wire
and inspect for damage. Repair any damage.
Do not operate machine on excessively steep (more than
19.
15 degrees) slopes. Go laterally or diagonally across the
slope, not up and down the slope.
Always disconnect the spark plug wire to prevent the
20.
engine from accidentally starting before performing any
maintenance on this machine.
Keep the machine and especially the engine/pump area
21.
clean and free of grease, grass and leaves to reduce the
potential for over heating and fire.
The speed and direction control levers located on the
22.
handle are designed for your safety. Do not modify them or
operate the machine if they are damaged.
General Requirements
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
OSHA Standard 1910.132 through 1910.139
OSHA standard 1910.132 states in relevant part:
23.
Protective equipment, including personal
a.
protective equipment or PPE, for eyes, face, head,
and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory
devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall
be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary
and reliable condition where ever it is necessary
by reason of hazards of processes or environment,
chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or
mechanical irritants encountered in a manner
capable of causing injury or impairment in the
function of any part of the body through absorption,
inhalation or physical contact.
This standard is subject to change. Please check www.osha.gov
for the latest regulatory updates
General
Sometimes, it is not possible to reduce a hazard by eliminating
it, substituting a less hazardous process or product, making
changes to equipment, or even by changing how you do the job.
That is when you need personal protection.
PPE includes items like gloves, goggles, boots, hearing
protection and respirators. Respirators filter out particles or block
gases and vapors that can harm the respiratory system. With a
surface area well supplied with blood vessels and equal in size to
a tennis court, the lungs are the quickest and most direct route
for absorbing harmful substance into your body.
Note:
PPE does not prevent accidents, but it does prevent or
reduce injury and even fatalities when used properly.
Equipment (PPE)
Protective equipment must be selected carefully. Always test
fit the protective equipment to be sure it fits properly and
comfortably. If it is not comfortable — it will not be worn; if it is
not worn — it will not protect. PPE includes:
Respirators
•
Chemical-resistant clothing
•
Hearing protectors
•
Gloves
•
Safety goggles and glasses
•
Hard hats
•
Sensors to detect hazardous substance
•
Communication devices used for safe deployment of
•
workers
Inhaling pesticide fumes and mists is a very common entry route
of pesticides into the body. Absorption through the lungs is great
and the sensitivity is high.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), under authority of the Federal Mine Safety and Health
Act of 1977 and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970,
tests, approves, and certifies respiratory equipment as being safe
for its intended purpose.
Note:
Always be certain that the NIOSH compliance number is
on the product before purchasing respiratory equipment.
Two systems of respiratory protection are available, depending
on the type of respiratory risk involved: air-purification (filtering)
and air-supplying. For most pesticide work, the air-purifying
equipment is adequate and safe.
Protective equipment is usually required by the pesticide label in
one form or another and is integral to safe pesticide application.
Chemical-protective clothing consists of multi-layered garments
made out of various materials that protect against a variety
of hazards. Because no single material can protect against all
chemicals, multiple layers of various materials usually are used
to increase the degree of protection. Protection is maximized
by total encapsulation (completely covering the wearer). An
assortment of types of chemical-protective hats, hoods, gloves,
and boot covers are used with the garments.
There are many brands and models of protective equipment
available for use in pesticide application. Price is not always an
indicator of quality, so shop carefully.
