A Review of the Use of Pictograms for Communicating Pesticide Hazards and Safety Instructions: Implications for EU Policy

ABSTRACT

The literature was reviewed to assess the understanding and interpretation of pictograms used in pesticide exposure risk communication, and to assess the results in the context of the new European Union (EU) regulatory context for the sustainable use of pesticides. The results indicate that the understanding of pictograms used on pesticide labels by workers and operators is generally low. Standardized approaches, contrary to their claims, are not easily understandable, culturally neutral, or universally understood. Although there is scope for the greater use of pictograms in training, it is important to stress that they should never replace the full and frequent verbal training in a language understood by the trainee. They can, however, be used to complement training, facilitate recall, and encourage compliance. While the policy affecting the handling, labeling, and use of pesticides is applied across the EU, there has been no analysis of the different types of pictograms that have been used in the European context, nor the different ways that they are employed (e.g., on labels, on signs, during training), nor understanding of their meaning by European workers and operators. Furthermore, the implications for risk with residents and bystanders are less clear than for workers and operators.

Key Words:

• pictogram
• pesticide
• risk communication
• sustainable use directive
• agriculture

Notes

European Commission, Pesticides Directive (2009/128/EC), establishing a framework for community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides, Official Journal of the European Communities, November 24, 2009.

European Commission COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 98/24/EC of April 7, 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (fourteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC), Official Journal of the European Communities, May 5, 2009.

Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament of the Council, of December 16, 2008 on classification, labeling, and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing, Official Journal of the European Communities, December 31, 2008 Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

“CLP is the Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures. This Regulation aligns previous EU legislation on classification, labeling and packaging of chemicals to the GHS (Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals). Its main objectives are to facilitate international trade in chemicals and to maintain the existing level of protection of human health and environment. The GHS is a United Nations system to identify hazardous chemicals and to inform users about these hazards through standard symbols and phrases on the packaging labels and through safety data sheets (SDS).” Taken from http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/chemicals/classification/index_en.htm (accessed August 4, 2014).

See http://www.napofilm.net/en/napos-films/multimedia-film-episodes-listing-view?filmid=napo-012-danger-chemicals (accessed September 4, 2013).

COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 547/2011 of June 8, 2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards labeling requirements for plant protection products.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 98/24/EC of April 7, 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (fourteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC), Official Journal of the European Communities, May 5, 1998.

The aims of the BROWSE project (supported by the EU 7th Framework Programme) are to review, improve, and extend the models currently used in the risk assessment of plant protection products (PPPs) to evaluate the exposure of operators, workers, residents, and bystanders, and to involve all relevant stakeholders and end-users and take full account of relevant gender issues in developing the exposure models and policy tools. For more information, please see https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/browse/index.cfm (accessed August 4, 2014).

Table 3. Some key recommendations arising from BROWSE project and the utility of pictograms in conveying them.