QAL Laws & Regulation Practice Exam

Why is it important to ensure gloves are of the proper thickness when handling pesticides?

1. To maintain grip on equipment

2. To prevent chemical penetration

3. To allow for better dexterity

4. To ensure gloves are reusable

The correct answer is: To prevent chemical penetration

Ensuring gloves are of the proper thickness when handling pesticides is crucial primarily for preventing chemical penetration. Pesticides are designed to control pests and can contain hazardous chemicals that pose risks to human health. If gloves are too thin, there is a significant risk that these chemicals can permeate through the material, potentially leading to skin exposure and adverse health effects. The thickness of the gloves creates a barrier that can minimize the absorption of these harmful substances, allowing for safer handling of pesticides. Therefore, selecting gloves with appropriate thickness is a vital safety measure in agricultural practices or any context where pesticides are used, ensuring that users are protected from harmful chemical exposure. While grip, dexterity, and reusability are important considerations in glove selection, they do not directly address the primary health risk associated with handling pesticides, which is managing chemical exposure through proper barriers. Hence, the focus on preventing chemical penetration stands out as the most critical reason for ensuring gloves are of the right thickness.