Personal Safety and Protective Equipment
Exposure routes
Dermal absorption is the most common route of pesticide poisoning, followed by eye and inhalation exposure. Ingestion is usually a hygiene failure - eating, drinking, smoking, or wiping your face before washing. Build PPE choices around the label, not around comfort or habit.
What the label specifies
The PPE statement is a minimum requirement, and adding protection is permitted but not always wise in Colorado heat. Chemical-resistant is not the same as waterproof. Cotton, leather, and canvas absorb and hold pesticide, and leather boots cannot be decontaminated. Nitrile, butyl, neoprene, and laminated film are the usual chemical-resistant materials, and the label may name a specific one. Wear sleeves outside the glove cuff when reaching overhead, and glove cuffs outside the sleeve when working with hands below shoulder height, so material cannot run into the glove. Respirators require a medical evaluation, fit testing, and the cartridge type the label names; particulate pre-filters are needed when the label warns of dust or mist.
Heat and hygiene
Rotate workers, provide shade and water, and recognize that extra PPE layers can create a greater hazard than the product. Wash contaminated clothing separately from family laundry, and never take work clothing home if the label forbids it. The Worker Protection Standard adds handler and worker protections for agricultural settings.
Rule of thumb
If the label requires chemical-resistant gloves, cotton and leather never qualify; choose a listed material and verify it against a resistance chart when the label is silent.