Conception des pulvérisateurs et réglementation applicable : des sources de prescription à l’origine de difficultés d’usage et de situations d’exposition aux pesticides pour les viticulteurs

Abstract

During the implementation of treatments designed to protect vines from diseases and pests (pesticide spraying), sprayers can prove to be an important tool for winegrowers. The choices that designers make in relation to these machines and the regulation requirements with which they must comply, constitute sources of prescription for the winegrowers’ activity. Indeed, these sources of prescription tend to guide how this equipment is used. Based on analyses carried out at three levels (the activity of winegrowers during the use of sprayers, the activity of sprayer designers and the applicable regulations2), our results show that these sources of prescription, developed away from the real work of winegrowers, cause difficulties regarding usage and pesticide exposure situations. To deal with these issues, using the instrumental approach our results also highlight the part played by strategies that winegrowers develop when using their equipment in order to meet their own internal sources of prescription. These strategies are relevant avenues to consider when aiming for an evolution in sprayer design and in the regulations applicable. Design and regulations thus appear to be relevant transformation levers for preventive actions.

Keywords

• design
• regulation
• instrumental approach
• pesticide exposure
• situations
• sprayer