Denis
Zeimet, Charles
V. Schwab and Laura
Miller
Iowa State University Extension
Protective
equipment is important when farmers work with pesticides and
toxic products. Protective equipment is equally important
when farmers work in dusty conditions common to most farms.
Exposure
to grain dust, molds, pollen, animal dander, soil dust, welding
fumes, and diesel exhaust can lead to serious respiratory
problems. Although they are less toxic than some chemicals,
dusts are suspended in the air and can easily enter the lungs
and cause damage.
Dust
in the lungs has both immediate and long-term effects. It
can cause additional physical stress for the person, resulting
in fatigue or shortness of breath. Long-term exposure to dust
can be accompanied by congestion, coughing or wheezing, sensitivity
to dust, and frequent respiratory infections such as colds,
bronchitis, and pneumonia. Over time, exposure to dust can
result in serious respiratory illnesses, such as farmer's
lung, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and other irreversible,
incurable ailments.
The
National Safety Council reported that 300 workers on large
farms were incapacitated due to respiratory conditions in
1990, about one-third caused by dust.
To avoid
immediate and long-term respiratory problems, farmers are
encouraged to wear protective equipment, such as a respirator,
whenever they work in dusty conditions. Respirators may be
a good choice if workers are:
- congested
or have breathing problems;
- generally
bothered by dust, or
- concerned
about the amount of foreign particles that get into the
body.
This publication
offers information about respirators used to protect lungs from
farm dust. Chemicals such as pesticides, anhydrous ammonia,
cleaning solvents, and disinfectants also require the use of
protective equipment. Check pesticide applicator training manuals
or discuss details with professionals.
Respirators
can be one of two types: those that purify existing air, and
those that supply air from a tank or other source.
Air-supplied
respirators, such as the self-contained breathing apparatus
(SCBA) used by firefighters, rarely are used in farming activities.
They are relatively expensive and wearers must be trained.
Many
dusty conditions on the farm can be improved with the use
of an air-purifying respirator. This device fits over the
nose and mouth and uses a filter or cartridge to mechanically
remove dust particles from the air as the wearer breathes.
An air-purifying respirator provides protection from dust
and mists.
There
are many styles of respirators on today's market, however, not
all are recommended for farming activities. Whether you're selecting
a new respirator or evaluating an existing respirator, always
consider several factors.
Testing
and approval: All respirators used in farming activities
should be approved by the National Institute of Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH-approved respirators have
been tested and meet special federal standards.
Proper
use: Many problems result from using an inappropriate
respirator. For example, dust masks will not reduce chemical
vapors. A respirator approved for use with chemicals may not
filter dust.
Always
use a respirator appropriate for the task. The specific contaminant
for which the respirator is approved will be written on the
cartridge filter or instructions with the respirator.
Proper
rating: As part of the testing process, a respirator is
assigned a "protection factor," or PF rating, which indicates
how well the respirator can perform its job. For farming activities,
always use a respirator with a PF rating of 10 or above.
Proper
size and fit: The respirator must form a good seal with
the wearer's face so that the respirator can function properly.
Dust that slips through a poor seal goes directly to the lungs.
Respirators
are available in various sizes and designs to fit most faces.
Eyeglasses, clothing, and facial hair such as beards or sideburns,
can interfere with the seal. All respirators must be "fit
tested" by safety professionals, using smoke, saccharin, or
banana oil while the device is being worn.
Cost:
Respirators can be either disposable or non-disposable. Disposable
respirators are inexpensive and can be discarded when dirty
or when the job is finished, but they can be relatively expensive
if protection is required on a regular basis. A better choice
is a durable respirator that can be washed and stored after
each use.
The
wearer's physical condition: The wearer of an air-purifying
respirator must be in good physical condition. Since air is
drawn through a filtering mechanism, breathing becomes more
difficult, and can cause stress for people with medical problems,
such as heart conditions or respiratory ailments. Always get
a physician's approval to wear a respirator.
No
respirator can solve all air quality problems. Wearing a respirator
incorrectly is as dangerous as not wearing a respirator at all.
People have a false sense of security when wearing a faulty
respirator or one that is inappropriate for the task.
Respirators
should not be worn when concentrations of dust are in the
explosive range. In this situation, you may protect your lungs
from dust but you're exposing yourself to other dangers. A
general rule is that if it's too dusty to see your hand at
arm's length, the environment is dusty enough to be explosive.
Another
dangerous situation occurs when air-purifying respirators
are used in toxic environments. Since air-purifying respirators
do not provide oxygen, the air in the working environment
must have at least 19.5 percent oxygen. Death can occur in
a limited oxygen environment.
Respirators
that filter dust cannot protect wearers in toxic chemical
environments, such as manure pits, silos, or sludge tanks.
Wearing a respirator equipped with a dust filter in these
conditions can be fatal.
The
use of respirators in day-to-day farm operations may be a
new practice for many operators. However, respirators can
reduce exposure to farm dust and may prevent serious respiratory
problems.
How
Much Do You Know?
- How
many farm workers in the United States suffer from serious
respiratory illnesses each year?
- less
than 30
- at
least 300
- more
than 1,000
- People
who work in agriculture develop immunities to dusty conditions
over time. True or false?
Wearing
a respirator, even if it does not fit correctly, is better
than wearing none at all. True or false?
- Most
people cannot tell when a respirator fits properly. True
or false?
- Most
respirators used in farming activities supply fresh oxygen.
True or false?
- A
respirator with a chemical cartridge is appropriate to use
when
- cultivating
in the wind.
- removing
the chemical for which it has been rated.
- cleaning
a hog confinement building.
See answers
at the end of this document.
What Can You Do?
You
can reduce your exposure to farm dust with these guidelines:
- Make
a list of jobs where you might need a respirator.
- Determine
proper respirator for the job. Check the label or with a
professional if you have questions.
- Compare
the cost of disposable and non-disposable respirators.
- Ask
a professional to fit-test your respirator.
- Routinely
clean and inspect all non-disposable respirators. Discard
disposable ones when dirty.
Respirators
are available from the manufacturer, through mail-order catalogs,
local implement dealers, or local farm supply stores. For more
information, contact your local extension office, insurance
representative, physician, or hospital clinic. These extension
publications also may be helpful:
Take
a deep breath and think lung protection, Pm-1334d. 1988.
Agricultural
Respiratory Hazards Education Series: Personal Protective
Equipment, Pm-1222a. 1986. Fee for publication.
Answers
to quiz: 1-b; 2-False; 3-False; 4-True; 5-False; 6-b.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This document is Fact Sheet
Pm-1518b
,
a series of the Safe Farm Program, Iowa State University Extension,
Ames, Iowa. Safe Farm promotes health and safety in agriculture.
It is funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health, Iowa State University, and a network of groups
that serve Iowa farm workers and their families. Publication
date: February 1993.
Prepared
by Denis Zeimet, ISU assistant professor of industrial technology;
Charles V. Schwab, extension safety specialist, and Laura
Miller, extension communications, Iowa State University Extension,
Ames, Iowa.
Cooperative
Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology
and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating.
Robert M. Anderson, Jr., director, Ames, Iowa. Distributed in
furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914.
The Iowa Cooperative Extension Service's programs and policies
are consistent with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations
on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, age and handicap.
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