The impact of pesticide use on human and environmental health has received attention from the international scientific community for some time, especially in developing countries where such chemical agents are used extensively and indiscriminately. The present study adopts a methodological approach to risk perception analysis based on rapid surveys, including: participatory observation; semi-structured interviews with key informants; and evaluation of local work processes. Field data analysis revealed several issues related to the risk perception profile of the study population, including the development of defensive strategies toward work hazards, subjective responses to potentially hazardous situations, and the role of individual risk perception as a determinant of human exposure to pesticides.