Determinants of safe behaviour in farmers when working with pesticides

Despite stringent regulation, accidents occur in the use of pesticides. To explore the factors which might influence farmers' approaches to safety when handling chemicals, we interviewed 84 agricultural workers from south-west Hampshire who reported having worked with pesticides in the previous 12 months. Most of those interviewed claimed that they always followed manufacturers' instructions regarding indications for use, method of application, mixing of chemicals, cleaning up and washing hands, but compliance was lower for recommendations about personal protective equipment and disposal of containers. Only 38% of subjects said that they always read all of the manufacturer's label when using a product for the first time. The main determinant of safe behaviour was the person's approach to safety in other situations, but formal training in the use of pesticides was also associated with more frequent use of personal protective equipment. Possession of a certificate of competence in pesticide use appeared to have less influence on working methods. Future efforts should be directed at changing farmers' handling of pesticides.