Health and Safety

Pesticide Safety Education Program Health and Safety

Applicator looks at how a respirator fits in the mirror

One of the Pesticide Safety Education Program's (PSEP) goals is to help Nebraska's pesticide applicators protect human health. In addition to doing this through applicator certification training, we have compiled the resources below to allow for a deeper exploration of the effects of pesticides on human health and the strategies that can be used to mitigate these effects.



  • Agricultural Health Study
    This research project will provide information that agricultural workers can use to make decisions about their health and the health of their families.
     
  • Health Protection and Safety Publications
    These NebGuides and Extension publications offer information on pesticide safety to include choosing the right gloves, PPE, safe transport, storage, and disposal, pesticide poisoning, and fumigation farm-stored grain.
     
  • National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
    Medical and consumer information on pesticides including links for toxicology; health; environmental and chemical properties; product label & SDS; statistics, etc.
     
  • Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings
    The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) presents information for health professionals on health hazards of pesticides and recommendations for management of poisonings and injuries.
     
  • Pesticide Exposure Reporting - PERC-Med
    Pesticide injury/exposure reporting requirements by state, including state agency contact information.
     
  • EPA Resources
    Pesticides: Public Health and Safety, Health and Safety Fact Sheets, and Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides
     
  • Migrant Health Program
    The federal Migrant Health Program provides funds to health centers located around the country to provide health care to nearly 800,000 farmworkers and their families every year. Read more about the background & history of the Migrant Health Program.
     
  • EXTOXNET (EXtension TOXicology NETwork)
    A source of objective, science-based information about pesticides - written for the non-expert.  The EXTOXNET InfoBase provides a variety of information about pesticides.
     
  • Health and Safety PSAs
    In an effort to reduce pesticide poisonings and promote the Nebraska Regional Poison Center, Nebraska Extension and the Department of Health & Human Services has produced public service announcements for applicators and homeowners in Nebraska.

 

Laundering Pesticide-Contaminated Clothing

  • Treat all clothing worn while handling or applying pesticide as contaminated!
  • Handle ALL contaminated clothing with gloves.
  • Wash clothing daily and separately from the family wash.
  • Pre-rinse, presoak, or pretreat with a stain remover.
  • Use HOT water.
  • Use the highest water level.
  • Use the longest wash cycle.
  • Use heavy-duty liquid detergent.
  • Line dry.
  • Wash clothing 2-3 times if heavily soiled or if pesticides are highly toxic, or consider discarding.
  • After washing, run the machine through a complete cycle with detergent.