Farmers’ Use of Personal Protection Equipment in Jeshore and Rajshahi Districts of Bangladesh

Abstract

Personal protection equipment (PPE) is used by farmers when dealing with crop protection products. Owing to its relevance, this survey assessed the status of PPE use by the farmers. The survey focused on two districts (Jeshore and Rajshahi) of Bangladesh. Descriptive research design was used to achieve the survey objective including both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Findings revealed that the mean age of respondents was 39.5 years with an average annual income of BDT 194,540.0 (USD 2,434.8), having very poor training exposure, but expressed positive perception on PPE use. Upon exposure to any crop protection product, the farmers wash it off immediately, and mostly clean with soap and water within one hour of spray completion. Frequently experienced difficulty was skin burn, and whenever contamination or poisoning occurs local domestic first aid methods were adopted or contact was made to village quacks. Qualitative findings revealed similar information, however, in addition, farmers especially, youth were found to have adopted “traditional PPE,” which involves wearing of trousers, long sleeve shirts, polythene in place of hand gloves and cotton napkin to cover their faces. It was suggested that organized campaigns and effective information dissemination would encourage adequate and proper application of PPE. Use of PPE becomes inevitable for farmers’ safety with advancement in science and technology and its consequential effects. It is, therefore, obvious that the all stakeholders in agriculture and agri-allied industries take awareness creation and training on PPE use as part of their core agenda to avert hazard and ensure safety.