The use of lice treatments should not be taken lightly, they have been responsible for illness in many farmers and shearers. Protect yourself and staff by using them safely.
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Safety
Introduction to safe use of pesticides.
Use of pesticides for controlling lice—occupational health and safety
How to use pesticides safely.
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1. What are the three (3) main ways you can be exposed to pesticides when treating sheep for lice?
2. How do different application methods affect likely exposure to chemicals?
If used according to label directions, backline applications generally pose the least risk of inadvertent chemical exposure. Watch out for leaking backpacks or application guns.
With shower dips, hand-jetting and jetting races, deflected spray or overspray can wet operators. These methods also produce aerosol droplets that can be inhaled. Wetting from overspray while operating the on/off valve for the top and bottom nozzles appears to be a major risk for operators of shower dips.
With hand jetting, the close proximity of the operator to the jetting wand and treated sheep presents a significant risk, whereas with jetting races accidental wetting from deflected sprays while moving stalled sheep, and the inhalation of aerosol droplets, present major risks.
With both plunge and cage dips, the main risks are during mixing of the dip wash, from standing too close to sheep that shake after leaving the dip and handling wet or recently treated sheep. Additionally, with plunge dips, there is a risk of exposure from splashing of sheep as they enter and leave the dip.
Although operated in essentially the same way, there are several styles of immersion cage dips. These vary in their design and in the protection from splashing and vapours they afford the operator.
3. How can an operator minimise their risk of exposure to pesticides?
Of the active ingredients commonly used on sheep, those in the OP (organophosphate) chemical group have the highest toxicity and represent the greatest risk.
5. Where do you find the minimum protective clothing and equipment recommended?
The list of protective clothing and equipment required to be worn for the safe application of a particular lice chemical will always be found on the product label.
Waterproof pants, gloves and boots are essential protective clothing when jetting and when handling wet treated sheep (i.e. from hand jetting, jetting races or from any form of dip.
7. What is your duty of care regarding lice pesticides?
Litigation in New South Wales in the mid 1990s, resulting from the exposure of shearers during the use of pesticides on the shearing board, has made it clear that everyone working in the rural industry has a ‘duty of care’; a legal obligation to provide a safe workplace for employees. This duty of care must be demonstrated in all practices undertaken in the workplace. Attending a farm chemical safety training course and/or supporting employees to do the same is strongly recommended.
8. What should you do if you suspect someone may have been poisoned by pesticides?
If you suspect someone may have been poisoned by pesticides, whether treating or handling treated sheep or by accidental exposure to stored chemicals, don't 'wait and see', instead, seek advice: Call an ambulance - dial 000 and call the Poisons Information Centre - dial 13 11 26. These numbers can be called from anywhere in Australia.
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