Cloth gloves are appropriate for handling which type of pesticides?

• A. Certain fumigants
• B. Herbicides
• C. Acaricides
• D. Fungicides

Answer: (A)

PPE selection hinges on how a pesticide can contact and affect the skin, and the label on the product tells you what barrier is required. Cloth gloves provide only a basic barrier, so they’re suitable in situations where the product form and use are such that minimal skin exposure is expected and the label explicitly allows it. Some fumigants are used in ways (for example, as packaged solids or in contexts with limited liquid contact) where a simple cloth barrier is deemed acceptable by the product label.

In contrast, herbicides, acaricides, and fungicides often require more protective barriers because these pesticides can easily soak through fabric, irritate or damage skin, or pose higher exposure risks even with brief contact. For those, chemical-resistant gloves made of materials like nitrile, neoprene, or butyl rubber are typically specified. Always follow the specific glove recommendations on the product label.