Which practice is critical for ensuring safety during pesticide application?

Wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical for ensuring safety during pesticide application because it helps minimize exposure to harmful chemicals. PPE serves as a barrier between the applicator and the pesticide, significantly reducing the risk of skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion of potentially hazardous substances. This equipment can include gloves, goggles, respirators, and protective clothing, all of which are designed to protect the applicator from the adverse health effects associated with chemical exposure.

The practice of applying pesticides during rain can increase the likelihood of drift and run-off, exposing the applicator to higher concentrations of chemicals and potentially impacting non-target areas. Using weaker pesticide formulations may be less hazardous but might not effectively control the pest problem at hand, which can lead to more applications and subsequent exposure. Applying pesticides at night may reduce some risks of drift due to lower wind conditions, but it does not eliminate exposure hazards. Therefore, consistently using PPE remains the most reliable method to safeguard individuals while applying pesticides.