PESTICIDE HANDLING 

Questions to ask:

 

- Have I read the labeling? 

- How can I avoid exposure to pesticides? 

- What personal protective equipment is needed? 

- Is the equipment ready and safe? 

- Am I avoiding the accidental spread of pesticides? 

- Have I instructed the handlers I supervise? 

- Am I prepared for emergencies? 

- Are people and animals out of the area? 

Pre-Application Decisions:

 

- Choice of pesticides 

- Choice of formulation: application site, equipment, cost, pesticide movement, personal safety, target pest, surface characteristics 

- Choice of application procedures concerning effectiveness

- Treatment area

- Soil Surfaces

- Plant Surfaces

- Other Surfaces

- Surface Moisture

- Temperature, Sunlight, Humidity

- Precipitation

- Air Movement 

- Scheduling of applications 

MIXING, LOADING, AND APPLICATION 

- Select appropriate site for mixing 

- Protect water source 

- Personal protective equipment- front, face, inhalation 

- Use care when opening containers, transferring pesticides, and avoid spills 

- Emptying containers:

- Triple rinse or pressure rinse 

- Add rinsate to pesticide mixture if label allows.  If label does not list rinsate as acceptable dilutent; if rinsate contains cleaning agents; or if by mixing the rinsate with the pesticide, the pesticide becomes unusable, DO NOT add. 

- Combining pesticides:

- Compatibility -  1st diluent

2nd Wettable and Water-dispersible

3rd Agitate and Add rest of diluent

4th add Liquid products

5th add Emulsifiable

 

- Shake, feel for heat, let stand 15 minutes; check for surface scum, clumping, settling 

- Test in small area of target treatment area 

- Applying: (these may require you to wear more PPE than specified on label)

- Using hand-held equipment

- Walking into applied pesticides

- If need to re-enter site

- Working down-wind

-          Concentrated rates; when adjusting equipment; when immersing hands

 

SAFETY SYSTEMS 

 

Closed systems

Pesticide containment systems: collection trays, collection pads           

 

        

APPLYING THE CORRECT AMOUNT

3 COMMON TYPES OF INSTRUCTIONS: 

1.  Amount of pesticide formulation per unit area: 

i.e.     5 gallons of formulation mix per acre, or 

3 tablespoons of pesticide per 5 gallons 

2.  Amount of active ingredient per unit area: 

i.e.        1 pint active ingredient per 1000 square feet, or 

½ pound active ingredient per 500 gallons         

3. Percentage of final dilution 

i.e.        ½ percent by volume or by weight 

  

CALIBRATION 

- Depends on formulation, speed of equipment, rate of application

- Amount of pesticide/area treated = application rate

- Perform a test application.  Strive for uniform speed.

- Recheck regularly for clogging, corrosion, adjusting of settings 

Example:          4 acres to be treated for site preparation

Herbicide concentrate with 40% active ingredient

Label specifies 1 ounce concentrate/5 gallons

Label specifies ½ ounce per acre of active ingredient                

 

HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED? 

1 oz./5 gallons = 0.4 oz. active ingredient per 5 gallons

 

    0.5 oz./acre              = 6.25 gallons/acre x 4 acres = 25 gallons of mix

0.4 oz./5 gallons

 TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, DISPOSAL, & SPILL CLEANUP 

VEHICLE SAFETY:

- Never carry pesticides in passenger compartment

- Never allow children, pets to ride with pesticides

- Never transport pesticides with food, clothing

- Never leave vehicle unattended in unlocked vehicle or container

- Transport volatile pesticides separate from other chemicals

- Transport container with intact, undamaged, visible labels

- Inspect before loading, handle carefully, anchor securely

- Protect from extreme temperatures

 

STORAGE:

- For large quantities, a separate storage building is desirable

- Secure with locks, warning signs,

- Prevent water damage to containers. Prevent contamination.

- Control temperature and provide adequate lighting

- Construction material, flooring, shelves should be non-porous

- Prevent and control spills, runoff with collection pad

- Provide clean water, eye-wash dispenser for emergencies

- Use original containers, keep an up-to-date inventory - should be easily accessible