The purpose of this study was to understand better the behavior of grain farmers toward the use of disposable protective coveralls by measuring beliefs, attitudes, and other components of the Fishbein-Ajzen theory of reasoned action and determining relationships among these components. The results indicate that most of the farmers believe that wearing disposable coveralls would provide the best method of protection and a more secure feeling about pesticide use. Respondents believe important referents such as their spouses will likely suggest that disposable coveralls should be worn while applying pesticides. Overall, farmers have positive attitudes and behavioral intentions. Pearson correlations and regression analyses indicate significant relationships among all components of the model. Attitude and subjective norm together provide considerable influence on behavioral intention with attitude being the stronger component. Thus the Fishbein-Ajzen model was applied effectively to the behavior of wearing disposable protective coveralls.

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The safe clean-up of pesticide spills in the workplace and decontamination of equipment and clothing are important in minimizing pesticide exposure. The objectives of the research were: to develop a detoxification procedure for chlorpyrifos which would enable safe clean-up on the job site; to determine if a 3-hour chlorine bleach pretreatment of fabrics contaminated with dilute chlorpyrifos is as effective in pesticide removal from 65/35 polyester/cotton as from 100% cotton; and to determine whether the chlorine bleach pretreatment is effective for removal of concentrated chlorpyrifos residues. The researchers make specific recommendations for chlorine bleach detoxification of chlorpyrifos, and for use of a bleach/soak laundry protocol for removal of dilute chlorpyrifos from cotton and polyester/cotton. Concentrated chlorpyrifos cannot be effectively removed from either fabric by laundering.