During treatments, it is important to follow security protocols and to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Such protection should provide the person preparing and applying the treatments with adequate protection against any contact with the product. The risk incurred depends on two parameters: exposure to the product and the danger associated with the product. To reduce product exposure, there are various types of personal protective equipment:
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Gloves: these should be worn during any operation that involves the risk of contact with a phytosanitary product. They are single-use and must always be available in agricultural machinery.
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Goggles: to avoid projections of products that may be in liquid or powder/mist form.
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Protective suits: these protect the whole body against any type of sprayed phytosanitary product. They can be type 5/6, i.e. protect the user against the risks of splashes and particles. Types 3/4 provide protection against liquids and aerosols respectively. For phytosanitary products, suits of type 4 or higher are recommended.
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Protective masks with cartridges: these protect against particles and toxic vapours. There are different types of masks depending for various degrees of protection: vapours, gases, particles, etc.
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Tractor sprayers are normally equipped with filters for the cabins which must be changed at the beginning of each treatment season to be effective.