CoSHH and the Agricultural Industry

There are a number of hazardous substances in the agricultural industry which can be detrimental to a worker’s health and safety.

Such substances include: 

Dusts from plants, animals and compost materials

Pesticides and feed additives              

Silage making products

Fertilisers

Animal diseases

Vehicle exhaust fumes.

Pesticides are a particular hazard to human health and will be examined more closely in this article. Unlike industrial chemicals, pesticides are developed solely for their ability to act on living tissues. The purpose of them is to protect plants by killing and deterring insects and animals which can spoil crops. Pesticides may include fungicides, herbicides (weedkillers), insecticides or bird and animal repellents. Everyone involved in the agricultural industry must store and transport pesticides with great care.

CoSHH law imposes strict regulations governing the use of pesticides. It requires employers to carry out CoSHH risk assessments to examine and control the hazards associated with pesticides by eliminating exposure to them, controlling any necessary exposure and monitoring the health of those who use pesticides.

It is very difficult to eliminate all exposure, thus employers should try and look for an alternative substance to use. Alternately, employers should look at using pesticides in a safer manner. For example, it may be possible to replace a powdered pesticide with a less dangerous liquid equivalent.

There must be controls in place if an employee is exposed to pesticides. Good ventilation is crucial, as are sufficient washing facilities and the use of personal protective equipment (gloves, masks etc).

 Workers should be given adequate training and current information on the product. Part of the training process for the use of pesticides should include reading the product’s label for instructions on usage. Cheap alternative pesticides should not be used. Officially approved pesticides will have a DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) or HSE (Health and Safety Executive) number on the label.

Health surveillance is also part of CoSHH legislation. Workers health needs to be monitored if they are using pesticides.

The transportation of pesticides is another key area for consideration. Pesticides should never be transported on self-propelled equipment or in a tractor. They should however, be stored in a locked container and carried on the outside of a vehicle. The container needs to be leak proof and have an identification label on the exterior.

There are also strict guidelines covering the disposal of pesticides. There are a number of Codes of Practice and Guidance in place to help employers meet their obligations.

Dale Allen delivers CoSHH compliance as one of the UK’s leading compliance authorities. Find out more about how you can use his online COSHH365 CoSHH assessment tool to produce compliant CoSHH assessments with the benefits of a managed Safety Data Sheet library.