Gloves: material matters more than thickness
"Chemical-resistant" means nitrile, butyl, neoprene, or barrier laminate — not leather, cotton, or latex, which absorb product and hold it against your skin all day. Rules that prevent most exposure: wash gloves before removing them, put sleeves over glove cuffs when spraying overhead, replace at the first sign of swelling or discoloration, and never reuse disposable pairs after handling concentrate.
Respirators: only when required, always when fitted
- The label names the type — commonly an N95 for dusts or an organic-vapor cartridge with P100 prefilter for fumes.
- Facial hair breaks the seal. A beard means no tight-fitting respirator, period — consider a loose-fitting PAPR.
- Cartridges have service lives; change on schedule or when you smell/taste product, whichever comes first.
- Store in a sealed bag away from the chemical area, or the cartridge absorbs while you sleep.
The decon routine (60 seconds, every time)
- Wash gloved hands, then remove gloves.
- Wash face, hands, forearms before eating, drinking, or the restroom.
- Remove work clothes before entering the house; shower promptly.
- Wash spray clothes separately, hot water + heavy detergent, then run an empty cycle to clean the machine. Discard clothing soaked with concentrate — it can't be laundered clean.
Drone-specific PPE notes
You're standing outside the swath, so exposure concentrates at mixing/loading — gear up hardest there, not just at launch. Add eye protection when handling batteries, and keep a spare pair of gloves in the truck; the pair you dropped in the mud is now contaminated.
Follows label PPE conventions and the EPA Worker Protection Standard. Related: mixing/loading & spill response, WPS.
Want it flown for you?
FactorDrones holds a commercial FAA Part 107 unmanned aircraft license; our pesticide applicator license (and FAA Part 137) are in progress. Reserve a price now and we’ll fly when fully cleared — or keep learning.