Personal protective equipment (PPE), an alternative for occupational safety for rice producers in Alanje, Chiriquí

Abstract

Modern agriculture and population growth have led to an increase in the use of agrochemicals to ensure food production and maximize profits; this research focuses on analyzing personal protective equipment (PPE) as an alternative for the occupational safety of rice producers in Alanje, Chiriquí. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the use of protective equipment on the health of rice producers and agricultural workers in the district of Alanje, province of Chiriquí, through the identification and exemplification of the PPE that must be used by agricultural workers when handling, preparing or applying chemical products, using a descriptive quantitative methodology through survey analysis. The total number of agricultural workers (12) indicated that they are aware of the long-term health effects and illnesses caused by chemicals used in rice cultivation, and that they  did  know  what PPE should  be used; however, only 42% use it. 50% of them have received training related to this topic at some point, and 42% have been visited by an evaluation entity. Without a doubt, rice cultivation uses large quantities of agrochemicals to control insects or pests, but if we want to safeguard the integrity of our agricultural workers, we must ensure the use of appropriate PPE, commonly classified as controls used to mitigate risks in work areas.