Occupational pesticide poisoning: symptoms, first aid and prevention

Pesticide is an umbrella term. The HSE explains that it includes plant protection products, such as fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and growth regulators, and biocides, which include rodenticides, disinfectants, wood and other preservatives, biocidal paints, surface cleaners and pest control products. Farmers, growers, groundskeepers, pest controllers and people who work with treated materials may all handle them.

Occupational poisoning means a harmful dose has been absorbed through work. The NHS describes poisoning as what can happen if you swallow, touch or breathe in substances that can be harmful, such as chemicals. The same product can poison by more than one route, for example through skin contact while mixing and by inhaling spray.

This guide covers pesticides in general. Two groups, organophosphates and carbamates, have their own guides on this site because their effects and treatment are more specific.

The NHS says that symptoms of poisoning depend on what caused it, and may include the following. It stresses that they can take a few hours or days to appear, so a person who feels well after an exposure should not simply assume they are fine.

• Feeling sick or being sick.

• Diarrhoea.

• Feeling sleepy.

• Blurred vision.

• A high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery.

• Confusion.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Seizures (fits).

• Loss of consciousness.

The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if you think you, a child or someone else may have swallowed, touched or breathed in something harmful, if someone has lost consciousness or stopped breathing, has severe difficulty breathing, or has a seizure. Call NHS 111 if you are not sure whether what has been swallowed, touched or breathed in is harmful. It advises not driving to A&E: ask someone to drive you or call 999 for an ambulance.

While waiting for help, the NHS advises starting CPR if someone is unresponsive and not breathing, putting an unconscious person who is still breathing in the recovery position, and checking regularly that they are breathing. Try to find out what caused the poisoning by looking for packaging or containers, and take some of the substance or its packaging to show doctors if possible. It says not to try to make someone sick, and not to give them anything to eat or drink.

Following the specific first aid instructions on a product label is also sensible, which is another reason the HSE stresses always keeping pesticides in their original labelled containers.

The NHS says treatment depends on what has caused the poisoning and is given in hospital. It may include medicines (antidotes), a charcoal drink that can help stop some types of poisoning, treatments for symptoms such as fluids into a vein for dehydration, and removing what has caused the poisoning from the body, for example by removing some substances from the blood. If you do not have symptoms you may not need treatment but may still need to be monitored for several hours in case you become unwell.

Identifying the product matters, which is why the NHS asks people to take the substance or its packaging to hospital with them.

The HSE says the decision to use pesticides should not be taken lightly and should form part of a thorough risk assessment. Its key points for safe use include the following.

• Only buy pesticides authorised for use in the UK, looking for an approval number on the label.

• Store pesticides in their original containers with the approved product labels, and never decant them into drinks bottles or similar containers.

• Never carry pesticides in the cab of a tractor or other vehicle; use a bulkhead or a secure chemical container or cabinet.

• Always read and make sure you understand the instructions on the label and safety data sheet. Failure to follow them may be an offence.

• Use the personal protective equipment identified in the instructions, and only spray when weather conditions are suitable.

• Make sure the user holds a specified certificate where this is required, and that application equipment other than knapsacks and hand-helds has passed the National Sprayer Testing Scheme.

Outlook depends on the product, the dose, the route of exposure and how quickly treatment begins. The NHS warns that poisoning can cause you to be seriously unwell and can be life threatening. Your doctors will explain the follow-up needed for the specific product involved.

If a work exposure has caused illness, an employer has duties under COSHH and health and safety law, and an occupational health service or your GP can document the work link. NHS emergency and hospital care is free at the point of use; private occupational health assessments are sometimes arranged by employers, but emergency treatment should never be delayed to arrange them.