FOR 215

APPLIED SILVICULTURE

Pesticide Certification

Unit 1

1.      Understand the general responsibilities of certified pesticide applicators in Virginia.  Know the difference between private and commercial applicators.

2.      Know the certification requirements for commercial applicators.

3.      Understand the exemptions that do not require pesticide certification.

4.      Know the names of the enforcement agencies involved with pesticides in Virginia.

5.      Understand what is meant by: “Restricted-Use” pesticides, and how record keeping must be handled with these types of pesticides.

Unit 2

1.      Understand why pest identification is the important first step in effective pest control.

2.      Recognize the 5 most common types of pests.  What is a “pest”?

3.      Why are weeds so successful?  What are the different classifications of weeds?

4.      Know some examples of biennial, perennial, and annual weeds.

5.      Understand the differences between continuous, sporadic, and potential pests.

6.      Why is monitoring important?

7.      Understand and recognize examples of the prevention, suppression and eradication forms of pest control.

8.      What is a “threshold” level, and how does this concept influence pest control?

9.      Understand IPM, and recognize examples of all the different control strategies used in IPM.

10.  Understand reasons why pest control measures sometimes fail.

11.  What are the physical characteristics of an insect?

12.  Why are insects so hard to control?

13.  What is the difference between a contact pesticide and a systemic pesticide?

14.  What is the difference between a selective and non-selective herbicide?

Unit 3

1.      Know the difference between a “label” and the “labeling”.

2.      Understand the meaning of “Restricted Use” and how to recognize it.

3.      Understand the difference between “common names”, “chemical names”, and “brand names”.

4.      Understand the meaning of the Signal Words: Caution, Warning, and Danger.

5.      The signals words intend to warn users about what type of effects to the body?

6.      Know the different types of information found on a pesticide label.

7.      What is the EPA establishment number?

8.      Understand the types of hazard statements found on a pesticide label.

9.      What does, “It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling, “ mean?

Unit 4

1.      Understand what a pesticide formulation is.

2.      Understand the difference between active and inert ingredients.

3.      Identify factors to consider when choosing a formulation.

4.      Recognize major differences, advantages, and disadvantages of the various formulations.

5.      What is the purpose of adjuvants and surfactants?

Unit 5

1.      Understand the difference between point and non-point source contamination.

2.      Understand how pesticides can travel through air, water, and by animals.

3.      Recognize various ways pesticides can contaminate the environment through careless handling.

4.      What is the difference between “persistent” and “accumulate”? 

Unit 6

1.      Recognize pesticide-handling activities that pose a threat to ground water or endangered species.  How can these practices be avoided or minimized?

2.      What does “back-siphoning” mean?

3.      What are factors that determine whether pesticides will reach ground water?

4.      How do pesticide solubility, adsorption, and persistence affect its ability to move into the ground water?

5.      What types of soil characteristics slow pesticide movement?  Permit rapid movement?

Unit 7

1.      Understand the concepts of hazard, exposure, and toxicity and how they relate to one another.

2.      What are the 4 routes by which pesticides can enter your body?  Which is the most likely to occur?

3.      Recognize situations where exposure may occur through each of the 4 routes.

4.      What factors determine how much pesticide will be absorbed into your body?

5.      Understand the difference between Acute, Delayed, Chronic, Developmental, and Systemic effects.

6.      Recognize 4 signs or symptoms of pesticide poisoning and 2 signs or symptoms of irritation effects from pesticides.

7.      What is the first thing you should do when someone is overexposed to pesticides?

Unit 8

1.      What are your legal responsibilities for following PPE requirements?

2.      What does chemical resistant mean?

3.      How can you tell when a material is not chemical-resistant to a pesticide?

4.      What steps must be followed when removing gloves DURING pesticide handling?

5.      What is meant by: “protective headgear”, “protective eyewear”?

6.      What special hazards are posed by fumigants?

7.      What should you do when you are finished using your respirator for the day?

Unit 9

1.      What are the basic safety questions you should ask prior to handling pesticides?

2.      What are some consequences of incorrect pesticide use?

3.      Name some factors to consider when choosing between formulations?

4.      Name 4 conditions at the application site that may influence your application decisions.

Unit 10

1.      What 4 types of PPE should be considered while mixing or loading?

2.      What should be done with an empty pesticide container?

3.      What 2 types of rinsing can you use?  What can be done with the rinsate?

4.      How can you decide whether 2 pesticides can be mixed?

5.      What safety procedures should be followed each time you apply a pesticide?

6.      When finished mixing, loading, or applying, what should you do right away?

Unit 11

1.      Why is it important to apply the correct amount of pesticide?

2.      What are some ways application rates may be stated on a label?

3.      How are application rates calculated?  Why should equipment be rechecked frequently?

4.      What pesticide formulations should be diluted?

Unit 12

1.      What precautions should be taken when transporting pesticides in a vehicle?

2.      What are 4 characteristics of a safe storage site?

3.      What are the 3 C’s of spill management?  What do each step involve?

4.      What does MSDS stand for?  What is an MSDS used for?

5.      What should you do if a pesticide container is damaged?

6.      What can you do with excess usable pesticide material?

7.      Who can be called when help is needed to manage a spill?