What should you do at the end of each workday after handling pesticides?

Taking a shower at the end of each workday after handling pesticides is important for several reasons related to health and safety. When you apply pesticides, there is a risk of residues remaining on your skin or clothing, which can pose potential health hazards. A shower effectively removes any pesticide residues that may have contacted your skin, thus reducing the risk of dermal absorption or contamination.

Showering also helps to wash off any pesticides that may have settled in hair, and this practice reinforces a habit of personal hygiene specifically aimed at minimizing exposure to chemicals. After showering, it is advisable to wear clean clothes to further prevent any possibility of re-contaminating yourself or your environment.

While changing clothes is an important step, just changing clothes without showering does not adequately ensure that any potential pesticide residues on your body are completely removed. Using wet wipes on hands may remove some residue but is not sufficient for overall decontamination, especially after handling pesticides. Going to bed without any cleanup poses a significant risk of transferring pesticides to bedding or other surfaces, which can lead to further exposure.

Therefore, taking a shower is the most effective measure to ensure personal safety and reduce the risk of pesticide exposure following a day of work.