Using personal protective equipment is extremely important, but it does not provide a guarantee that a pesticide handler will be fully protected from chemical exposure. To test the protectiveness of certain types of PPE in field conditions, Dr. Richard Fenske pioneered the use of the fluorescent tracer technique in the early 1980s as a way to measure pesticide contamination on the skin of agricultural pesticide handlers.
As an educational tool, the fluorescent tracer technique can enhance learning, stimulate discussion, and promote safe practices. This video from the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (PNASH) and the University of Washington, shows how a trainer can use a fluorescent tracer to demonstrate pesticide safety.
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