NYS PCO NYS PCO Pesticide Safety and PPE 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) is MOST critical when applying organophosphate pesticides?
- Chemical-resistant gloves (Correct answer)
- Cotton work gloves
- Leather gloves
- Latex examination gloves
Correct answer: Chemical-resistant gloves
Chemical-resistant gloves are essential when handling organophosphates because they prevent dermal absorption of these highly toxic compounds.
Question 2: Under NYS regulations, pesticide application records must be retained for a minimum of how many years?
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 1 year
- 5 years
- 7 years
Correct answer: 3 years
NYS DEC requires pesticide application records to be kept for a minimum of 3 years.
Question 3: What does the signal word 'DANGER' on a pesticide label indicate?
- Highly toxic — LD50 is very low (Correct answer)
- Moderately toxic
- Slightly toxic
- Minimal hazard
Correct answer: Highly toxic — LD50 is very low
'DANGER' indicates a highly toxic product with a very low LD50, meaning even small amounts can cause death or serious injury.
Question 4: Before entering a pesticide-treated area, a PCO should verify that the:
- Re-entry interval (REI) has elapsed (Correct answer)
- Wind speed exceeds 10 mph
- Temperature is above 90°F
- Label has been discarded
Correct answer: Re-entry interval (REI) has elapsed
The re-entry interval must have elapsed to ensure residues have dropped to safe levels before re-entry.
Question 5: Which respiratory protection is required when applying pesticides that produce fine aerosols in enclosed spaces?
- NIOSH-approved respirator with appropriate cartridges (Correct answer)
- Surgical mask
- Dust mask
- No respiratory protection needed
Correct answer: NIOSH-approved respirator with appropriate cartridges
NIOSH-approved respirators with the correct cartridges are required to protect against inhalation of aerosol droplets and vapors in enclosed spaces.
Question 6: When a pesticide is accidentally splashed in the eyes, the FIRST action is to:
- Flush eyes with clean water for 15–20 minutes (Correct answer)
- Apply eye drops immediately
- Call poison control before doing anything
- Cover the eye with a bandage
Correct answer: Flush eyes with clean water for 15–20 minutes
Immediate flushing with clean water for 15–20 minutes removes the chemical and minimizes tissue damage before seeking medical help.
NYS PCO NYS PCO Pesticide Safety and PPE 1
Which piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) is MOST critical when applying organophosphate pesticides?