Spraying is a necessary job on conventional tillage farms. It is a hazardous activity and should be taken seriously.

Farmers and sprayer operators should take the correct precautions when spraying to mind themselves. They should avoid inhaling fumes from chemicals and protect themselves from spills or splashes.

Last year, the Irish Farmers Journal spoke with John McNamara of Teagasc on safety with pesticides. You can view the video by clicking this link.

When spraying you need to look at the label of the product(s) you are spraying and wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Here we go through some of the main PPE needed. You should wear comfortable wellingtons, a Tyvek suit, face shield, a respirator and gloves. PPE should have a CE mark and an EN mark.

In pictures

Face shield: needs to cover your face, forehead and chin. Needs a forehead strap so it is not loose.

Gloves: should be nitrile, in good condition and the gauntlet should go over your wrist and up your arm.

Respirator: farmers need an ABEK1 filter that covers all pesticides. It should be secure and clean and the filters should be replaced when out of date.