Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): Keithley Amory, Member of the Pesticides Control Board provided farmers with tips to minimize risk to their health and urged all to exercise due care and caution when utilizing pesticides to protect crops and livestock.
Mr. Amory touched on issues such as labelling and personal protective equipment (PPE). He noted that using protective equipment to minimize exposure can help to minimize the hazards associated with using pesticides.
“On that label, they do specify the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and they do explain to you upfront that you must wear these protective equipment. That consists of wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, as well as rubber boots and gloves that are chemically resilient, and respiratory masks that are designed to deter chemicals from entering,” said Mr. Amory on the September 29 edition of Working for You. “So, it is very important that farmers adhere to the use of these protective equipment. In addition, they must also wear them properly as there is a proper method of dressing when they are utilizing these equipment.”
Farmers were also encouraged to thoroughly read the labels and any supplemental information before applying pesticides because the label contains all the information needed for proper and safe use of the chemical, treatment for accidental exposure, and directions for appropriate use and disposal of the pesticide container.
He implored users of pesticides to be extremely careful as improper use can have serious repercussions on one’s health.
“We have seen that health risks such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, infertility, rashes, and respiratory disease can develop from the use of these pesticides,” he said. “In addition to that, farmers don’t use pesticides according to the labelled directions. You can have air pollution, water contamination, as well as soil contamination.”
Mr. Amory said that to minimize the risks to farmers the Pesticides Board and all persons who manufacture these chemicals have been encouraged to play their part in protecting the health of persons and the environment.
