African Health OER Network: Biological monitoring of workers exposed to pesticides - Guidelines for application in field settings

This guideline has been produced by the Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit at the Department of Community Health, University of Cape Town as part of its research in the field of pesticide hazards and pesticide safety. The support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in this regard is acknowledged.

This guideline was produced for those persons responsible for the maintenance of health and safety measures at agricultural workplaces handling potentially hazardous organophosphate and carbarnate chemicals. It is primarily aimed at professional nursing and other medical staff charged with monitoring workers for pesticide exposure, but will be useful to all personnel involved in workplace health and safety wishing to understand the principles behind monitoring workers for pesticide exposure. The guidelines concentrate on monitoring for organophosphate and carabarnate insecticides because the technology is reasonably readily available, and the methodology well described. These chemicals are widely used, and are the most common cause of acute poisoning by pesticides. The guidelines have also been written bearing in mind the Hazardous Chemical Regulations (Regulation 556 of 25 August 1995 in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act) that include agricultural workplaces in addition to industry.

Institution: University of Cape Town

Author: Leslie London