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Safety

Protecting crops, protecting people

Crop protection products work well when they are used correctly. These simple rules protect the operator, their family, consumers and the environment.

Equipment First aid
Operator in a hooded protective coverall, safety goggles, respirator mask and yellow gloves, spraying with a backpack mist blower in an orchard

The essentials

The golden rules

Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

  1. Read the label

    Before every use: rate, crop, precautions, pre-harvest interval and required equipment.

  2. Wear PPE

    Gloves, overalls, boots, goggles and mask as stated on the label, from the moment you prepare the mix.

  3. Do not eat, drink or smoke

    While handling and spraying, and until you have washed your hands and face.

  4. Spray in calm weather

    No spraying in strong wind, intense heat or when rain is imminent, to avoid drift and wash-off.

  5. Keep children and animals away

    During mixing and spraying, and until the re-entry period for the field has ended.

  6. Lock products away

    In the original packaging, in a ventilated, locked store, away from food, water and children.

  7. Rinse empty containers

    Triple rinse, puncture and store them for collection: never re-use them.

  8. Respect intervals

    The pre-harvest interval and re-entry period protect consumers and workers.

Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE forms a barrier between the product and your body. It must be in good condition, suitable and worn throughout handling.

Operator in a hooded coverall, respirator mask, gloves and rubber boots treating an orchard with a backpack mist blower at sunset
Full protective equipment while spraying: gloves, mask, covering clothes and boots.
  • Nitrile gloves Long and chemical-resistant, never cloth or leather. Rinse them before taking them off.
  • Respiratory protection A suitable filtering mask when the label requires it, especially when handling powders.
  • Goggles or face shield Essential while preparing the spray mix, when the risk of splashes is highest.
  • Boots Rubber boots, with the overall legs worn outside so that product cannot run inside.
  • Overalls Long-sleeved overalls or covering clothes kept for spraying, washed separately after use.
  • Hygiene Do not eat, drink or smoke while working; wash thoroughly after spraying.

The PPE required for each product is stated on its label. Always read the label before use.

Step by step

Before, during and after spraying

  1. Before

    • Read the label and check that the product is authorised on the crop.
    • Inspect and calibrate the sprayer and check for leaks.
    • Check the weather: wind, temperature, risk of rain.
    • Put on PPE before opening the container.
    • Prepare the mix outdoors, away from wells, streams and homes, and only as much as you need.

  2. During

    • Walk at a steady pace with the wind behind you and the lance in front.
    • Never blow through a blocked nozzle: use a soft brush or water.
    • Do not eat, drink or smoke.
    • Stop spraying if the wind picks up or rain threatens.
    • Never leave equipment or products unattended.

  3. After

    • Rinse the sprayer and spread the rinse water over the treated field, away from water sources.
    • Triple rinse empty containers.
    • Wash PPE, then wash yourself thoroughly with soap and water and change your clothes.
    • Lock away any remaining products in their original packaging.
    • Mark the treated field and respect the re-entry period and pre-harvest interval.

Storage and transport

Store and transport products safely

Jute sacks of rice stacked in a warehouse

Storage

  • A locked room or cabinet that is dry, ventilated and out of direct sunlight.
  • Products kept in their original packaging with a legible label.
  • Never near food, animal feed or grain intended for consumption.
  • Liquids on the lower shelves, powders above, on an impermeable floor.
  • Absorbent material (sand, sawdust) at hand to contain spills.

Transport

  • Containers tightly closed and secured, kept apart from passengers, food and animals.
  • Never inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle, nor in the same load as food.
  • Check containers before loading; if one leaks, isolate it and clean up with an absorbent.

Empty containers

Triple rinsing: an essential habit

An empty container still holds some product. Triple rinsing recovers it for the spray tank and makes the container safer to handle.

  1. Empty

    Empty the container fully into the sprayer tank and let it drain for about 30 seconds.

  2. Fill a quarter

    Fill the container about a quarter full with clean water and close it.

  3. Shake

    Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds, turning the container in all directions.

  4. Pour into the tank

    Pour the rinse water into the sprayer tank. Repeat the operation twice more.

  5. Puncture and store

    Puncture the bottom of the container so it cannot be re-used, then store it under cover until it is collected.

Never

  • Re-use a container for water, food, oil or fuel.
  • Burn containers in the open or throw them into a stream.
  • Leave containers in the field or give them to children.

Ask your dealer or our team about the empty container collection options available in your area.

Environment

Protect water, bees and biodiversity

Bees and pollinators

Do not spray flowering crops during foraging hours and follow the bee-related instructions on the label. Warn neighbouring beekeepers.

Streams and wells

Leave an unsprayed buffer along watercourses, never mix near a well and never rinse equipment in a river.

Drift

Spray in light wind, at moderate pressure and with suitable nozzles, so the product stays on the field.

Wildlife and beneficials

Favour selective products and spot treatments to protect beneficial insects, birds and soil life.

First aid

In case of an accident

Act quickly and protect yourself, then go straight to a health centre, taking the product label or container with you.

Skin contact

Remove contaminated clothing and wash the skin with plenty of soap and water.

Eye contact

Rinse immediately with clean water for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelids open.

Inhalation

Move the person away from the treated area into fresh air and keep them at rest.

Swallowing

Do not induce vomiting unless told to by a medical professional; rinse the mouth and get help urgently.

Feeling unwell

Place an unconscious person in the recovery position, give nothing by mouth and arrange transport to a health centre.

In case of poisoning, see a health professional without delay and show the product label: it contains the information needed for treatment.

Need training in safe use?

Our team runs practical sessions for farmers, cooperatives and agro-dealers.

Request a training session Contact us