Personal Protective Equipment

EPA Chemical Resistance Category Chart

For use when PPE section on the pesticide label lists a chemical resistance category.
The Worker Protection Standard requires that labels of pesticides used on farms, and in forests, nurseries and greenhouses list the type of personal protective equipment (PPE) that must be worn with each product. Labels will refer to chemical resistance categories (A-H) for PPE. Items in these categories are made of materials that the pesticide cannot pass through during the times indicated below the chart. Choose the category of resistance which best matches the handling task duration. The categories are based on the solvents used in the pesticides, NOT the pesticides themselves. Therefore, there will be instances where the same pesticide with two different formulations (wettable powder-WP and emulsifiable concentrate-EC, for example) will require PPE from two different chemical resistance categories.

Selection Category Listed on Pesticide Label	Types of Personal Protective Material
	Barrier Laminate	Butyl Rubber > 14 mils	Nitrile Rubber > 14 mils	Neoprene Rubber > 14 mils	Natural Rubber > 14 mils	Polyethelene	Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) > 14 mils	Viton > 14 mils
A( a dry and water- based formulation)	high	high	high	high	high	high	high	high
B	high	high	slight	slight	none	slight	slight	slight
C	high	high	high	high	moderate	moderate	high	high
D	high	high	moderate	moderate	none	none	none	slight
E	high	slight	high	high	slight	none	moderate	high
F	high	high	high	moderate	slight	none	slight	high
G	high	slight	slight	slight	none	none	none	high
H	high	slight	slight	slight	none	none	none	high

HIGH: Highly chemical-resistant. Clean or replace PPE at end of each day's work period. Rinse off pesticides at rest breaks.
MODERATE: Moderately chemical-resistant. Clean or replace PPE within an hour or two of contact.
SLIGHT: Slightly chemical-resistant. Clean or replace PPE within ten minutes of contact.
NONE: No chemical-resistance. Do not wear this type of material as PPE when contact is possible.

Entry-Restricted Areas in Nurseries During Pesticide Applications

During Application of a Pesticide	Workers and other persons are Prohibited In:
(1)(a) Applied: aerially, in an upward direction, or using a spray pressure greater than 150 psi (pounds per square inch), or (b) Applied as a: fumigant, smoke, mist, fog, or aerosol	Pesticide treated area plus 100 feet in all directions on the nursery
(2)(a) Applied downward using: a height of greater than 12 inches from the planting medium, a fine spray, or a spray pressure greater than 40 psi and less than 150 psi. (b) Not as in 1 or 2(a) above, but for which a respiratory protection device is required for application by the product labeling	Treated area plus 25 feet in all directions on the nursery
(3) Applied otherwise	Pesticide treated area

Interpreting PPE Statements on Pesticide Labels

Label Statement	Acceptable PPE
Long-sleeved shirt and	Long-sleeved shirt and long pants long pants, or Woven or nonwoven coverall Plastic- or other barrier-coated coverall, or Rubber or plastic suit
Coverall worn over short-sleeved shirt and short pants	Coverall worn over short-sleeved shirt and short pants, or Coverall worn over long-sleeved shirt and long pants, or Coverall worn over another coverall, or Plastic-or other barrier-coated coverall, or Rubber or plastic suit
Coverall worn over long-sleeved shirt and long pants	Coverall worn over long-sleeved shirt and long pants, or Coverall worn over another coverall, or Plastic- or other barrier-coated coverall, or Rubber or plastic suit
Chemical-resistant apron worn over coverall or over long-sleeved shirt and long pants	no substitute
Waterproof suit or liquidproof suit	no substitute
Waterproof gloves	Any rubber or plastic gloves sturdy enough to remain intact throughout the task being preformed
Chemical-resistant gloves	Barrier-laminate gloves, or Other gloves that glove selection charts or guidance indicate are chemical-resistant to the pesticide for the period of time required to perform the task
Chemical-resistance gloves such as butyl or nitrile	Butyl gloves, or nitrile gloves, or Other gloves that glove selection charts or guidance indicate are chemical-resistant to the pesticide for the period of time required to perform the task
Shoes	Leather, canvas, or fabric shoes chemical-resistant shoes, or chemical-resistant boots, or chemical-resistant shoe coverings (booties)
Chemical-resistant footwear	Chemical-resistant shoes, or Chemical-resistant boots, or Chemical-resistant shoe coverings (booties)
Chemical resistant boots	Chemical-resistant boots
Chemical-resistant hood or wide-brimmed hat	Rubber- or plastic-coated safari-style hat or fire-fighter hat, or plastic- or other barrier-coated hood, or rubber or plastic hood Full hood or helmet that is part of some respirators.

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