Greenhouse Hygiene Practices to Reduce & Contain Pest Outbreaks: #4 Worker Hygiene

Items for worker hygiene
Daily hygiene and sanitation are important to minimize the spread of pests.

Photo by: Kit Galvin

 

notes icon Take note

Wearing clean scrubs and spraying clean indoor work shoes with a sanitizing solution helps to prevent pests and fungi from entering the work rooms. These steps help eliminate the use of pesticides to remove pests.

 

alert icon Alert

  • Adjustments to the sanitizing solutions concentration base may be necessary.
  • Train all new employees in worker hygiene procedures before they start to work in the greenhouses
  • Provide all employees periodic refresher training on how to use the sanitizing solutions safely.
     

setup icon Setup & use

  • Pre-mix sanitizing solution and clearly label the container. Place them near room entrances.
  • Change into clean scrubs and indoor shoes at the beginning of workday. Store outdoor clothes and shoes in lockers, or in clean plastic bags.
  • Spray shoes with sanitizing solution before entering each room.
  • Remove scrubs and indoor shoes at the end of workday.
  • Put dirty scrubs in the hamper for cleaning.
     

 

supplies icon Supplies

  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Isopropanol
  • Distilled water
  • Sharpies
  • Hazard communication labels for the sanitizing solution containers
  • Clean scrubs and indoor shoes
     
spray bottle
Spray sanitizing solution on shoes before entering rooms.

tips icon Tips

  • Sanitizing solution concentrations will vary depending on what is being sanitized.
  • Provide laundry service for dirty scrubs.
  • Include the hydrogen peroxide safety and isopropanol data sheets in the workplace chemical inventory.  
     
“Worker hygiene works well with overall sanitation practices. Prevention of pests is always easier than removing pests. It’s more work eliminating the pests so it’s better to prevent them from entering the workplace in the first place.”
Greenhouse worker

 

General Nursery and Greenhouses Rules

Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC)

 

Worker Protection Standard Rules

Federal

Washington State

State of Oregon

Last updated

We hope that you will be inspired you to incorporate solutions into your own training style, develop your own hands-on teaching tools, or discover new practical solutions. We hope that you are inspired to use these solutions in your workplace. Did you try one of the practical solutions or develop a new one? We would appreciate hearing about your ideas and experiences.

Thank you and safe pesticide handling,
PNASH

Contact your state agency for more information on WPS regulations. The content of this website is for informational purposes only. It may need modification to fit your needs or it may not be appropriate for your workplace. Safe use of these solutions is your responsibility. The University of Washington and the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety & Health Center is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the use of the information provided on this website.

PNASH Project 2016-2021 (CDC/NIOSH Cooperative Agreement # U54 OH007544)

Contact us

Project Email:
PractSol@uw.edu

Project staff:
Maria Tchong-French (habla español)
206 685-6728