Occupational Safety, Health and Environment: Pesticides, Machinery and Heat
Occupational Safety, Health and Environment tests pesticide safety, machinery safety, heat stress, first aid and environmental protection. The exam wants the safe sequence, not a list of hazards.
Core rules
- Read the pesticide label before opening the container. Use the required PPE: gloves, mask, eye protection, boots and coveralls. Mix in a ventilated area and never eat, drink or smoke during handling.
- Observe the pre-harvest interval and re-entry interval. Store pesticides in a locked, labelled cabinet away from food and feed. Never reuse empty containers.
- Keep machinery guards in place, switch off the engine before clearing a block, and avoid loose clothing near moving parts.
- Prevent heat exhaustion with water, shade and work scheduling. Know basic first aid and report incidents.
Worked example
A label states WHO Class II, pre-harvest interval 7 days and re-entry interval 24 hours. If spraying is done on 1 June, do not enter the treated area without PPE until 2 June, and do not harvest before 8 June. The reasoning is: spray date + re-entry interval for entry, and spray date + pre-harvest interval for harvest. Both dates must be counted from the day of spraying.
Traps that cost marks
Do not reuse pesticide containers, store them with food or feed, spray against the wind, or skip PPE because it is hot. Do not ignore the pre-harvest interval, burn plastic waste in the field, or clear a jammed machine while the engine is running. Do not treat early heat exhaustion as a minor issue.