Organophosphate pesticides health monitoring

Organophosphate pesticides are phosphotriester compounds that can be divided into five classes based on their differing alkyl phosphate constituents:

• phosphates
• O-phosphorothioates
• S-phosphorothioates
• Phosphorodithioates
• phosphonates/phosphoramidates

Organophosphate insecticides are widely used on a large variety of crops. Examples of work activities involving OPs that require special attention when assessing exposure include:

• pest control operators who use OPs every day in their work
• manufacture, formulation and packaging
• transport, storage and distribution
• handling used containers, for example in scrap recovery
• agricultural and horticultural activities like mixing, loading and applications where direct handling of the chemical occurs
• veterinary activities like cattle and sheep dipping
• seasonal field workers exposed to pesticide residues
• laboratory workers undertaking research on OPs

This guide provides information for those registered medical practitioners engaged by a PCBU to carry out or supervise health monitoring for workers. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the following:

• Health monitoring guide for registered medical practitioners
• Health monitoring guides for hazardous chemicals
• Health monitoring guide for workers
• Health monitoring guide for persons conducting business or undertakings (PCBUs)