What must employees know about pesticide exposure?

• A. The license renewal process
• B. The routes by which pesticides can enter the body and the signs and symptoms of exposure-related injury or illness
• C. The weather forecast for application days
• D. The cost of PPE

Answer: (B)

Understanding how pesticides can enter the body and the signs of exposure-related injury or illness is essential for protecting workers. Pesticides can affect the body through inhalation of vapors or aerosols, skin contact or absorption, ingestion from touching the mouth with contaminated hands or objects, and eye exposure from splashes. Recognizing early symptoms—such as irritation of the skin or eyes, coughing, throat irritation, dizziness, headache, nausea, or weakness—helps a worker take immediate protective actions, stop work as needed, increase decontamination, use appropriate PPE correctly, and seek medical evaluation if symptoms appear. This knowledge also guides when to report symptoms to a supervisor and to follow emergency procedures. The other topics listed don’t provide this practical understanding of how exposure occurs or how to recognize its effects.