Study of the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in greenhouses of Galicia

Pesticide use in agriculture has great relevance in greenhouse cultivation. Accordingly, exposure to pesticides cannot be avoided by the workers involved in the production process. For this reason, the working conditions in the greenhouses of Galicia have been a major concern for researchers, as evidenced by the content and actions proposed in many studies aimed at reducing workplace accidents and improving the living conditions of the people linked to pesticide handling. One of the key factors in the improvement of working conditions and the reduction of accidents in greenhouses is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The closed environment of greenhouses involves greater risks from pesticide exposure, and the high temperatures reached inside greenhouses favour inappropriate use of PPE due to lack of comfort when wearing the equipment at such high temperatures. Spanish Royal Decrees RD 1407/1992 and RD 773/1997 and Spanish Law 31/1995 govern the mandatory use of Personal Protective Equipment certified with CE labels on jobs where polluting emissions are not controlled, being appropriate to the risks defined in each process. Specific training for farmers leads to greater awareness of risks and to proper use of appropriate PPE. Spanish law 31/1995 envisages that the employer shall ensure that every worker receives adequate and appropriate training and education in prevention. Order of March 8, 1994 establishes the regulations for the approval of training courses for performing pesticide treatments. The aim of this study is to determine through surveys what personal protective equipment is used to perform treatments in the greenhouses of Galicia, how PPE is used, and the amount of knowledge than handlers have of PPE.