There are several aspects of safety you need to keep in mind while performing mosquito control services: personal; customer; and, environmental. The first step to safety is to understand the products you’re using, as it is with all pest control products and protocols.

Thoroughly read all product labels and only use them as directed. It’s your responsibility to know how to use all products effectively and safely. If you’re not certain about something, ask someone who knows. The best source of product information is the manufacturer. They’re your partner in pest control. Not using products as directed can put you, your customers, and the environment at risk. Remember: the label is the law.

Wash up. You’ll see it on every product label and it’s just common sense: “Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling and before eating, drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco or using the toilet.” Do it!

Personal protective equipment. It’s important to protect yourself by wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling products and performing mosquito control treatments. Information on the minimum PPE recommendations is listed on every product label and safety data sheet (SDS). If you’re in doubt as to what PPE to use or have questions, contact the product manufacturer for additional information. Ensure all PPE is properly fitted and maintained.

Recommended personal protective equipment will vary by product and may include:

Protective clothing. The most common cause of pesticide poisoning is absorption of product through the skin during mixing, loading, application, and equipment maintenance. Minimize exposure by wearing appropriate clothing. At a minimum, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, as well as shoes and socks. More toxic pesticides may require the addition of an apron or chemical-resistant clothing, which may be reusable or single-use.

Respirators. Protect yourself from airborne product by using the correct type of respirator specified on the label. There are many types of respirators with various filters. Everyone’s head and face are shaped differently, so each PMP should have their own correctly sized and fitted respirator. Always test the respirator before each use. Annual fit tests and medical evaluations should be performed before using a respirator.

Eye protection. As you likely already know through experience, our eyes are very sensitive to pesticides. Look for label instructions that indicate you should use eye protection. Types of eye protection include safety glasses, goggles, and face shields. Goggles offer better protection than safety glasses when working with liquids, which may splash. Goggles can be: open-vented, which protect your eyes from impacts; indirect vented, for protection against splashes; and, non-vented, good for protecting your eyes from gasses, mists, and fumes.

Hand protection. There are many types of gloves made from a variety of materials. All are designed to protect you from product being absorbed through the skin. Check the label for the most appropriate type of glove to use, which may be waterproof or chemical resistant. Waterproof gloves are not the same as chemical-resistant gloves. Chemical-resistant gloves may have a barrier laminate or be made from nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber, or viton to prevent exposure to products. Ensure gloves fit properly and you have extras on hand in case the ones you’re wearing are damaged or wear out. If you even think you may have a leaky glove, throw it away and get a fresh one.

Foot protection. Often wearing shoes and socks is sufficient when handling pesticides, although some product labels may indicate you should wear chemical-resistant footwear. Wear your pant legs outside of boots and shoes to help ensure nothing accidently splashes or dumps in. Make sure to clean footwear of all powder or liquid products to avoid accidentally contaminating other areas.

Drift is always a safety issue. As one PMP said, any drift is bad drift, because it can be a safety risk for the technician, anyone in the area, and the environment. It’s absolutely critical to ensure it’s not too windy to perform mosquito control service. If it’s too windy, do not perform the service!

• Check the weather. If it’s forecast to rain before you estimate the product will dry, reschedule service. Check the product label for weather-related restrictions. Rain may also simply wash product from the treated area. There are many factors that impact how quickly a product will dry, including temperature, humidity, and airflow.
• Stay at least 20’ away from water sources. Some products are toxic to fish and reptiles. Consider covering pools and decorative ponds with a tarp to avoid drift problems. Mark an “X” on the top side of the tarp so you know which side is up at your next job. Fold it so that the clean side doesn’t come into contact with the potentially contaminated side. Keep your back toward a pool or other water source and treat away from it, not toward it, while paying attention to the wind direction.
• Avoid product drifting into any area with edible plants or flowers. Fruits and vegetables must be thrown away if they are inadvertently treated with product that’s not labeled for this application. Avoid treating areas with blooming plants, you run the risk of killing beneficial bees.
• Inspect the yard before performing treatment. You’ll be able to identify harborage areas, while determining what products and equipment to use. You’ll also be able to remove items that could potentially be contaminated, including pet’s water bowls, kids toys, tables and chairs, among other items. Take a look at the neighbor’s yard to see if anything there could be problematic.

Backpack mister/sprayers: Be careful. They’re heavy! Backpack mister/blowers are a popular tool for PMPs performing mosquito control. A 3.7-gallon backpack mister/blower can, on average, treat a 5,000 sq. ft. property. Backpack mister/blowers provide good coverage, can use about one-third less product compared to a truck-mounted sprayer, and there’s no hose to lug around.

There are safety concerns regarding the use of backpacks. They’re heavy! One gallon of water alone weights approximately 8.34 lbs.

PMPs reported the average weight of “fully loaded” backpack mister/blowers is 50 lbs., depending on the equipment weight and the tank capacity. One PMP indicated they were originally using 3.7-gallon (31 lbs. of water) backpacks and are now switching to 2.1-gallon (17.5 lbs. of water) backpacks due to safety concerns. “The weight of the backpack has been a concern; we practice safety with our technicians to prevent injury.”

Not surprisingly, carrying too much weight can contribute to poor disk alignment, fatigue, and muscle strain, especially in the shoulders and back. It’s important to take precautions when carrying mister/blower backpacks. As with any heavy object, bend at the knees when lifting a backpack. Regular training for all technicians on ways they can protect themselves physically is recommended.

Another PMP shared that techs “need to be fit and in shape” to handle the weight of the blowers and that performing mosquito control services for 4–5 hours daily is reasonable. “Blowers full of 3–5 gallons [of water] in the hot summer is tough work.”

The number of service calls a technician may make varies greatly by company: from 2–3 per week, to 10–12 per day and as high as 15–20 treatments per day for those on commission. The range of hours on the road per day is as low as 4 and as high as 10. One PMP indicated 6–7 hours per day “is plenty.”

How much weight are others carrying?

• According to a 2007 study, a Marine’s backpack packed with typical gear can weigh 97–137 lbs.
  Soldiers and Marine’s in Iraq and Afghanistan routinely carry a load of 60–100 lbs. of gear.
• The backpack of a “more experienced” backpacker shouldn’t exceed 25% of their body weight for a 4-day excursion — 50 lbs. for a 200 lbs. person. A “very experienced, well-conditioned” backpacker can probably handle up to 35% of their body weight – 70 lbs. for a person weighing 200 lbs.
• A study of 6th graders determined their backpacks averaged 30 lbs. The suggested maximum weight a child’s backpack should weigh is 10 – 15% of their body weight.
• According to a 2012 Consumer Product Safety Commission report, there were more than 24,300 people treated for injuries related to backpacks; 9,500 of those injuries were kids 5 – 18 years old.

Source: http://www.pctonline.com/article/mosquito-control-safety-first/