What PPE is commonly required when applying pesticides to protect against dermal exposure?

• A. Leather gloves only
• B. Chemical‑resistant gloves, long-sleeve shirt and long pants, eye protection, sturdy footwear, and a respirator if the label requires it
• C. No PPE required
• D. A hard hat and sandals

Answer: (B)

Protection against skin contact during pesticide application comes from wearing the PPE specified on the product label. The best choice includes chemical‑resistant gloves to stop skin absorption, a long‑sleeve shirt and long pants to cover exposed skin, eye protection to guard against splashes, sturdy footwear to protect feet and prevent tracking of residues, and a respirator if the label requires it for inhalation hazards. Pesticides can irritate or be absorbed through the skin, so chemical‑resistant gloves are essential, and covering more skin reduces the area that could come into contact with the chemical. Eye protection is crucial because a spray splash can reach the eyes, and sturdy footwear protects against spills and contamination. A respirator is not automatically required for every pesticide, but some products carry inhalation hazards and the label may mandate a respirator for those scenarios. The other options fall short because they either omit important protective items (like chemical‑resistant gloves, body coverage, eye protection, or appropriate footwear) or suggest protections that don’t address pesticide risks (such as sandals or only leather gloves).