Cleaning Up After Handling Pesticides

When you finish any pesticide handling job, take off your PPE. When removing the PPE, be careful not to get pesticides on your skin or on any clean clothing underneath. The following are safe practices for removing PPE:

• Wash the outside of your gloves while you are still wearing them.
• If possible, keep your gloves on while taking off your other PPE.
• Peel away your coverall, and take off the other PPE.
• If you have already removed your gloves, avoid touching the outsides of the PPE as much as possible.

Once you have removed the PPE, wash your hands, face, and any other exposed skin with soap and water. Put all used PPE aside until it can be cleaned or disposed of. Do not wear the PPE home or take home any PPE that has not been cleaned. If your employer asks you to clean PPE at work, be sure you know how to do it safely. Wearing a pair of protective gloves, hand wash the inside and outside of all of the PPE, including gloves, boots, and respirator facepieces.

At the end of the workday, take off your work clothes, shower, and put on clean clothes. Put your used work clothes in a container until they can be washed. Do not ride home with pesticides on your clothes, as your vehicle will become contaminated.

To learn more about Pesticide Handler Safety visit our Pesticide Handler Safety Online Training web page.