Under My Skin

1. Under My Skin Understanding and Controlling the Risks of Dermal Exposure to Pesticides PestSure Continuing Education Program Fall 2004 J. Dylan Romo,CIH, CSP, ARM Sr. Loss Control Consultant Lockton Companies of Dallas

2. INDUSTRIALHYGIENISTS: WE DON’T DO TEETH!

3. What is Industrial Hygiene? That science dedicated to the “anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control” of occupational health hazards • Arising during or as a result of work • Having the potential to cause discomfort, sickness, injury or otherwise impair the health or well-being of workers

4. IH Focus Chronic health hazards • Small exposure doses • Occurring over long period of time • Can result in serious illness(e.g. respiratory disease, cancer) • Exposure assessment • Qualitative • Quantitative

5. Air Sampling • Air pump • Collection media • Lab analysis • mg/m3 or ppm • 8-hour TWA exposure • Compare to guidelines • OSHA/ACGIH

6. Routes of Exposure • Inhalation • Ingestion • Injection • Absorption

7. Skin! • Largest organ of human body • Extremely sensitive • Renewable • Protective • Regulates body temperature Source: National Geographic

8. Things to Consider • Pain from injury • Not impenetrable • Certain types of chemicals can get through • Foreign agents can be stored or transported

9. Health Effects • Occupational injury • Primary point of contact • Irritation • Burn • Dermatoses

10. Health Effects • Occupational illness • Systemic • Target organs • Cancer • Skin sensitization

11. Contribution of Skin Exposure • In a whole body vapor exposure, only around 10% of the body burden is from the skin route • But key attributes of pesticides include: • Persistent • Penetrating • Poisonous

12. Gross Contact • Direct immersion • Liquid splash or spill • Not limited to liquids only • Includes dry powder dusting

13. Fallout from Aerosols • Airborne liquid droplets • Pump sprayers • Wind current • Too much pressure • Damaged nozzle • Not always detected

14. Contaminated Surfaces • Previously treated areas • Confined spaces • Crawl spaces • Attics • Abrasion speeds permeation

15. Contaminated Clothing/PPE • Common culprit is leather footwear or gloves • Can hold chemical against the skin for long periods • Prolonged contact allows for increased skin absorption • Scenarios include • Mixing spills • Drips from wands • Contaminated PPE should be removed immediately!

16. Exposure through PPE • PPE is NOT a solid barrier • Permeation • Penetration • PPE is NOT all the same – no one type works for all • PPE does NOT last forever – there is a ‘useful life’

17. Common Controls • Awareness • Chemical handling • PPE

18. Awareness • Two Sources • Training • Experience • Two Types • Objective information • Conditions

19. Chemical Handling • Keep containers closed whenever possible • Consult labels often • Act deliberately • Aim for zero exposure

20. PPE • Selection • Chemical properties • Glove characteristics • Task requirements • Use and Maintenance • Pre-check • Proper donning/doffing • Cross contamination • Cleaning • Storage and Disposal • Chemical free zone • End of useful life

21. Other Risk Factors • Skin Condition • Area of the Body • Personal Hygiene

22. Skin Condition • Must be protected • Maintain moisture to avoid drying/cracking • Clean and protect cuts from chemical exposure • Consult your physician

23. Area of the Body • Thin skin, highly vascularized • Scalp, forehead, genitals, ear canal • Precautions • Wear cap • Earplugs • Holding equipment in lap

24. Personal Hygiene • Wash exposed skin if suspect chemical contact • Wash hands before • Eating • Smoking

25. Closing • Skin is the largest organ in the body • Dermal exposure and absorption can provide a significant contribution to dose • Work practices, personal hygiene, and PPE must be used wisely to prevent injury and illness