How To Dress For Pests: Proper PPE For DIY Pest Control

This page is a general personal protective equipment (PPE) guide that covers strategies and techniques for strictly controlling your safety when applying or mixing an insecticide, herbicide, or fungicide.

Personal protective equipment is something that the most common do-it-yourselfer or professional needs to follow with whichever pesticide, herbicide, insecticide, or chemical solution you choose to use.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is equipment or clothing that protects you from hazards listed on the selected product label, diseases, or contact with pests. One of the many reasons to wear PPE is to ensure your safety against things like bug bites, itchy skin, or irritable eyes.

To protect yourself, you will learn from this guide what equipment to use, and the necessary precautions to take that should cover most bases when wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment.

PPE For DIY Pest Control

There are all sorts of personal protective equipment you can wear when applying a pesticide or insecticide product, but the best place to start is the product label. The label will have a brief recommendation of what you should wear when handling or applying the chemical solution.

This will vary from label to label, but following this section can help you better understand what type of personal protective equipment to wear before entering or handling your treatment area.

• Respirator Mask
• Chemical Resistant Gloves
• Chemical Resistant Closed-Toe Footwear Plus Socks
• Chemical Resistant Apron or Disposable Coveralls like a Tyvek Suit
• Long-Sleeve Shirts
• Long-Sleeve Pants
• Safety Goggles

What to Wear Before Using Pesticide

Personal protective equipment (PPE) that should always be worn protects your eyes, mouth, face, hands, and feet when mixing or applying any chemical solution. To better understand, let's look at some standard equipment to use and why it is important for pest control.

Gloves—To reduce the chemical solution's contact with your skin, wear a chemical-resistant glove. These tools are especially important when you are mixing or loading your selected liquid chemical solution into a sprayer.

Eyewear—Most insecticides or chemical solutions do not specify what eyewear to wear. We recommend using goggles or safety glasses with wide front, side, and brow protection, as pesticides can easily absorb into your eyes and cause severe eye injury.

Respirators—The main type of respirator or face shield you will want to use is one that covers your entire face or half of it. Preferably, an appropriate mask, such as an N95, will protect your mouth and nose from pesticide fumes or particulates.

Protective Clothing—For full skin protection, we recommend a combination of a Tyvek Chemical Safety Suit or disposable coveralls made out of tightly woven fabrics. We do not recommend using any clothing containing holes. Another form of protective clothing you can wear is a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, and closed-toe shoes that do not contain any holes or wear. The goal is to keep your skin safe from any spray or misting that may be pushed back onto you from high winds.

Inspection and Maintenance

It is always a good idea to give any equipment a quick inspection before use, and safety equipment is no exception. Before you begin your chemical applications, ensure your safety gear is in proper working order.

For skin protection, it is as simple as looking the equipment over and ensuring there are no rips, tears, or other damage that could allow chemicals to pass through and contact your skin.

For eye protection, check for damage and ensure any straps or fasteners are in good condition.

Inspect the filters of respirators or masks and replace them if needed. If your safety equipment fails or stops immediately during the application, address the problem. A quick break to put on a new pair of gloves or change out the filter on your respirator could save you from serious irritation or harm.

PPE Cautions to Take

• If possible, avoid splashing, spilling, leaks, or spray drifts to clothing or personal protective equipment.
• Properly dispose of contaminated clothing. If there are not numerous spills on clothing or equipment, properly wash with soap and water before storing.
• When wearing gloves, they should be tucked into the sleeve of your shirt. Gloves tucked over a long-sleeved shirt do not completely protect against liquid products slipping from underneath.
• When removing gloves, do not take either glove off. With one hand still covered by the glove, remove the second glove, taking care not to contaminate your hands with the first glove.
• Pesticide applications requiring respirators should be avoided in hot climates to prevent your mask from building moisture. If possible, apply early in the morning when insect activity is less active and weather conditions are cooler.

Key Takeaways

What to Wear For Common Pesticide Applications

• Despite the type of pests being treated, you will wear appropriate personal protective equipment to protect your eyes, mouth, face, hands, and feet when mixing or applying chemical solutions.

Why Should You Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Protective personal equipment should be worn to protect yourself from hazardous materials through smell, taste, and contact. If your skin or eyes come into contact with the product's chemical solution, this can risk your life and lead to irritable skin or eyes, itching, or burning.

When is Personal Protective Equipment Required?

• All chemical products have a minimum set of PPE requirements on the label. Always read the product label for a list of the recommended PPE.