The World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined the safe use of pesticides for mosquito control. Many pesticides are toxic to humans and need to be handled carefully.
Personnel:
(1) There should be supervision by a well-trained individual.
(2) Workers should be trained about safe practices and the hazards of pesticide misuse. (*)
Personal protective equipment (PPE):
(1) Safety gloves, goggles and masks should be used for high-exposure activities such as machine calibration.
(2) Work gloves should be washed frequently and not used if contaminated, as wearing contaminated gloves can be dangerous.
Pesticide handling:
(1) Instructions on pesticide labels should be followed carefully.
(2) Care must be taken in disposing of used insecticide containers.
(3) After each day’s operation, any unused liquid larvicide should be disposed of safely.
(4) Pesticides should not be poured off into an unsuitable container (unlabeled, mislabeled, etc). (*)
(5) Information about the pesticide product should be readily available. (*)
Clothing and personal hygiene:
(1) Spray operators should be provided with at least two uniforms to allow for frequent changes.
(2) Changing and washing facilities should be available.
(3) All work clothes should be removed at the end of each day’s operations and a shower or bath taken.
(4) Work clothes should be washed regularly, preferably daily.
(5) Spray operators should wash their hands and face before eating.
(6) Spray operators should not smoke during work hours.
Monitoring:
(1) Appropriate monitoring of workers should be performed (for example, blood cholinesterase levels should be monitored if organophosphate insecticides are used).
(2) Exposures to toxic compounds should not exceed recommended limits.
Other recommendations:
(1) During and immediately after indoor space spray operations, householders and pets must remain outside the dwelling.
where:
• Items with an (*) were added and not in the original recommendations.
