PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT GUIDE
CHOOSING
CHEMICAL-
RESISTANT
PPE
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Bany |K-siicide labels iiistruct the user to wear
personal protective equipment (PPE) clothing
and devices that protect the body from contact with
pesticides or pesticide residues. Some labels require the
use of chemical-resistant PPE items that the
pesticide cannot pass through during the time it takes to
complete the task. The labels of a few pesticides, such as
somc> fumigants, prohibit the use of chemical-resistant
PPE.
Most chemical-resistant PPE items are plastic or
rubber. Bui not all these materials are equally resistant
to all pesticides and under all conditions.
Chemical Resistance
Three factors affect a material's chemical resistance:
the exposure time, the exposure situation, and the
chemical properties of the pesticide product to which
l.tir iii:i(cri;il i^ rxpnsfd.
Exposure time
Not all types of materials that are resistant to a
particular pesticide will provide protection for the same
amount of time. Some will keep the pesticide out for a
long lime. Others will allow the pesticide to reach the
skin fairly quickly. Disposable plastic gloves, shoe covers,
or aprons may .provide enough protection for tasks that
can be done in a few minutes. Longer jobs usually
require items made of a more resistant material.
A pesticide begins to move into a material as soon as it
gets on the surface. The pesticide continues to move into
iiiul through the. material until the pesticide is removed.
MF-||I [in'Vfjil pi'stii'idrs fromgi'tlinn Itiroiigh ''tfinical-
resistant items, such as gloves, boots, and aprons, by
regularly rinsing off pesticides that are splashed or
spilled on thcm.
Chemical resistance is often stated in terms of
exposure time (the time from first exposure until the
chemical breaks through to the other side of the
material). For example, neoprene may be resistant to
one solvent for 30 minutes or less and to another solvent
for more than 4 hours.
Exposure situation
A chemical-resistaiu null-rial will not continue to be
protective if it is damaged. For tasks that involve
I smiling sharp objects or walking through rough terrain,
a sturdy material would be necessary to resist punctures
or tears.
Type of chemical
No single material can protect against all pesticide
products. The chemical resistance of a material depends
on whether the pesticide is liquid or dry, and what
diluents or solvents are used.
Chemical Resistance
of PPE Materials
Unless the pesticide label directs otherwise, do not use
items that are made of or lined with absorbent
materials such as cotton, leather, and canvas. These
materials are not chemical resistant, and they are
difficult or impossible to dean after a pesticide gets on
them. Even dry formulations can move quickly through
woven materials and may remain in the fibers after
several launderings.
Look for PPE items whose labels state that the
materials have been tested using ASTM (American
Society for Testing Materials) test methods for chemical
resistance, such as test method F759-91. Gloves and
footwear marie of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or rubber
(butyl, nit rile, neoprene, or natural rubber) must be at
least 14 mils thick.
Pesticides can leak through suicliing notes and gaps in
seams. For chemical resistance, PPE should have sealed
seams.
Do you need advice on choosing PPE? Try PPE
catalogs, mannfnrlnri>rs. or dealers; the pesticide
manufacturer or dealer; or the Cooperative
Extension Service.
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Barrie r-tam inat e
materials are resistant
to most pesticides and
are a good choice for
many situations.
Barrier-laminate (Silver
Shietd^-H") gloves may
be uncomfortable and
clumsy to wear for some1
kinds of lasks. Try wearing
fined rubber gloves over
barrier-laminate gloves for comfort, protection, and
dexterity.
Any plastic or rubber material is resistant to dry
pesticides and to water-based pesticides (those
that use water as the only diluent or solvent).
Dry pesticides include dusts, granules, pellets, and
sumo hails. Water-based pesticides include wettable
powders, soluble powders, some solutions, dry flowables
(waler-dispersible granules), and microencapsulated
pesticides.
The type of material that ta resistant to non-
trater-based liquid pesticides depends on the
contents of the formulation.
Liquid pesticides that are not water-based may be
emulsifiable concentrates, ultra-low-volume and low-
volume concentrates, low-concentrate solutions,
fliiwabli-s, aerosols, dormant oils, and invert emulsions.
Common solvents are xylene, fuel oil, petroleum
distillates, and alcohol.
Choosing Chemical-
Resistant PPE
Materials not listed on label
If the pesticide label requires the use of chemical-
resistant PPE but does not indicate the types of
materials thai are resistant to the product, select sturdy
barrier-la)iiinale. butyl, or nitrile materials. Then watch
for sinus that ihe material is not chemical-resistant. For
example, the material may:
change color,
become soil or spongy,
swell or bubble,
» dissolve or become jelly-like,
» crack or get holes,
become stiff or brittle.
If any of these changes occur, discard the item and
choose another type of material.
Specific PPE materials listed directly on
label
If the pesticide label specifies the PPE materials that
must be worn when using the product, follow those
instructions.
Some labels may list examples of PPE materials that
are highly chemical resistant lo the product. The label
may say, for example: "Wear chemical-resistant gloves,
such as barrier laminate, butyl, nitrile. or viton." Y'ou may
choose PPE items made from any of the listed materials.
Chemical-resistance category listed on label
Pesticide labels that list examples of PPE materials wUJ
often also specify a chemical-resistance category (A
through H) for the product. This allows you to consult an
EPA chemical-resistance chart (such as the one in this
brochure) to learn whether you have PPE material
options other than those listed in the examples on the label.
Using the Chemical-Resistance
Category Selection Chart
When pesticide labels list a chemical-resistance
category, you can find that category on an EPA chemical-
resistance category selection chart, such as the one in
this brochure, to determine the entire range of PPE
materials from which you can choose. The chart
indicates how long you can expect the various types of
PPE materials to be resistant to the type of pesticide you
are using.
Failure to replace or clean the PPE items within the
time intervals specified on the chart would be consid-
eaxl a misuse of the pesticide, because the items would
no longer meet the label's requirements for "chemical-
resisiant" PPE.
When choosing an appropriate material, also consider
the dexterity needed for the task and whether the
material will withstand the physical demands of the task.
The PPE will protect you for the approximate time listed
on the chart, if:
no punctures, tears, or abrasions allow pesticide
to penetrate the material, and
pesticide does not get inside the PPE through
careless practices, such as allowing pesticide to
run into gloves or footwear or putting the PPE
on over already contaminated hands or feet.
Highly resistant PPE
A rating of high means that the material is highly
resistant to pesticides in that category. PPE made of this
type of material can be expected to protect you for an 8-
hour work period. The outside of the PPE, especially
gloves, should be washed at rest breaks about once
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EPA CHEMICAL RESISTANCE CATEGORY SELECTION CHART
For use when PPE section on pesticide label lisus a chemical resistance category'
SELECTION
CATEGORY
LISTED ON
PESTICIDE LABEL
A
(dry and
wolirr-brisfd
Jbrmutations)
B
C
D
B
r
6
B
Barrier
Lamiii. Mi-
high
high
high
high
high
high
higt
high
TV
Butyl
Rubber
> 14 mil*
high
high
hifth
iiiAh
slight
high
slight
slight
PE OF PERSONS
Nltrlle
Rubber
> 14 roils
high
slight
high
moderate
high
high
slytv
slight
JL PROTECTIVS
Neoprene
Rubber
> 14 mil*
high
ihfthi
high
nuxli-nilr
Ugh
moderate
slight
slight
MATERIAL
Natural
Rubber*
514 rolls
high
none
moderate
none
slight
slight
none
none
Polyethylene
high
slight
moderate
none
nolle
none
none
none
Polyvinyl
Chloride
(PVC)
a 14 mils
high
slight
high
none
moderate
slight
none
none
Vlton
1 ! niil-
high
slight
high
slight
high
high
high
high
^includes natural rubber blends and laminates
HIGH Highly chemical-resistant. ''Iran m rr|J;wt-' PPE at end of each day's work period. Rinse off pesticides at rest breaks.
MODERATE Moderately chemical-resistant,. Clean or replace PPE within an hour or two of contact.
SLIGHT: Slightly chemical-resistant. Clean or replace PPE within ten minutes of cftnUirt.
NONE: No chemical-resistance. Do not wear this type of material as 1TE when contact is possible
every 4 hours. Highly resistant PPE is a good choice
Aden ttaiiiibiiL! |."siKi'i>.ji. i^jv-i Killy < i.j,< ,'nirali"-, for
long periods of time.
Moderately resistant PPE
A rating of moderate means that the material is
moderately resistant to pesticides in that category. PPE
made of this type of material can be expected to protect
you for 1 or 2 hours. After that, replace the PPE with
dean chemical-resistant PPE or thoroughly wash the
outside of the PPE with soap and water. Moderately
resistant PPE may be a good choice for pesticide
handlii\g tasks that last only a couple of hours.
Slightly resistant PPE
A rating of slight means that the material is only
slightly resistant to pesticides in that category. PPE
in;nli- <-1.if inaif-rial ran !« <-x|w-rii'. I in |>rui<!
you for only a few minutes after exposure to the
pesticide product. After that, replace the PPE or
thoroughly wash the outside of the PPE with soap and
water. Slightly resistant PPE may be a good choice for
pesticide handling tasks that last only a few minutes.
Inexpensive disposable gloves or shoe covers, such as
those made from polyethylene, may be useful for such
brief tasks as:
adjusting contaminated parts of equipment,
* unclogging or adjusting nozzles,
opening pesticide containers,
* moving open pesticide containers or containers
with pesticides on the outside,
handling heavily contaminated PPE,
climbing in and out of cabs or cockpits where the
outside of the equipment is contaminated, and
operating closed systems.
These disposable PPE items should be used only once,
for a very short-term task, and then discarded. At the end
of the task, it is a good idea to Erst wash the outside of the
gloves or shoe covers, and then remove them by turning
them inside out. Discard them so they cannot be reused.
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This publication was produced through the cooperative efforts of:
** CPA U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460
Extension Service, U, S, Department of Agriculture
Washington, DC 20250
PPE Guides in this series include:
Coveralls, Gloves, and Other Skin Protection
Clothing Layers for Added Protection
Choosing Chemical-Resistant PPE
Protective Eyewear
Respirators
Inspecting, Maintaining, and Replacing PPE
Avoiding Heat Stress
Ni'|inm«'A MnUaServices
I V.nir-11 I liiiKTSily, Ithaca NY JvM EU ISM ,\
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