Course:SPPH381B/TermProject/Coffee Beans/Pesticides

Pesticides

Occupational hazard analysis

Recognize

Pesticide use is a significant risk for farming workers, especially those in developing countries. People in developing countries are typically less aware of the risks of pesticide use and the best practices for harm reduction. These countries also have fewer regulations and enforcement of regulations banning dangerous pesticide use. In Brazil, coffee farmers are notorious for using dangerous chemicals as pesticides. Even if a pesticide is banned, it takes years for the product to fully be removed from the market.

Evaluate

93% of farmers in rural Tanzania reported suffering pesticide poisoning sometime in their lifetime. In Jamaica, a majority of coffee farmers surveyed reported at least one health symptom associated with pesticide misuse.

Short-term symptoms of pesticide poisoning include pain, headaches, nausea, as well as skin and eye irritation. More serious long-term effects include cancer, neurological diseases, birth defects, and even infertility in men.

Control

Pesticides know to be significantly harmful, such as paraquat which is still widely used in Brazil, should be eliminated or substituted with safer pesticides. After pesticides have been sprayed indoors, workers should be forbidden from entering that building for a specified amount of time.

Workers should be educated about the risks of pesticide poisoning. A medical program should also be put in place, where workers suffering symptoms can be examined. Additionally, depending on the level of toxicity of the pesticide being used, different types of personal protective equipment should be used. This includes clothes covering all exposed skin, chemical-resistant gloves, protective eyewear, and respiratory devices.