Unit 1. Pesticide Use in Virginia

Question 1

Name the Virginia government agency responsible for enforcement of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the Virginia Pesticide Control Act.

Answer 1

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Pesticide Services (VDACS-OPS)

Question 2

The Commonwealth of Virginia recognizes several types of pesticide applicator. What type of applicator is described by the following?
* Uses or supervises the use of any restricted-use pesticide (RUP) to produce an agricultural commodity.
* Applies RUPs to property owned or rented by user, or by his or her employer.
* Can also apply an RUP to another producer’s land but must receive no compensation other than trading of personal services between them.
* Must give direct supervision to any uncertified applicator who applies RUPs.

Answer 2

Certified Private Applicator

Question 3

In Virginia, there are four (4) classes of commercial applicators. Name them.

Answer 3

1. For Hire (Uses or supervises the use of any pesticide commercially or on the property of others – Example, Orkin man).
2. Not for Hire (Uses or supervises use of any pesticide as part of his/her job duties – Example, works in nursing home and applies pesticides as part of job duties) .
3. Government Employee (Any local, state or federal government employee who uses or supervises the use of pesticides as part of his/her job duties – Example VDOT employee spraying roadsides).
4. Inactive (Any commercial applicator who is not currently employed in pesticide related job and thus, not covered by insurance. Must still attend recertification classes).

Question 4

All certified applicators must maintain their certification or they face having to take the exam again. What should certified private applicators know about recertification?

Answer 4

1. Private applicator certificates expire every other year on December 31. Check with VDACS-OPS to find out when your certification expires.
2. You must earn at least one credit in each of three content areas (safety, law, pest management) every two years before your certificate expires.
3. Contact your extension agent to find out when and where recertification courses will meet.
4. Applicators may accumulate up to four years of recertification credits.
5. VDACS-OPS will automatically issue a new certificate to those who have met recertification requirements.

Question 5

Before someone can become a certified commercial applicator, he/she must (a) be a registered technician in Virginia for one year or (b) prove that they have the education, training, or experience equivalent to one year of experience as a registered technician.

What do you do to become a registered technician in Virginia?

Answer 5

1. Complete an approved training program that includes 20 hours of instruction and self-study of the the Virginia Core Manual (Applying Pesticides Correctly).
2. Have at least 20 hours of on-the-job training under the direct onsite supervision of a certified commercial applicator.
3. Within 90 days of starting the job, must (a) complete on-the-job training, (b) submit an application to VDACS-OPS to take the registered technician exam, and (c) take the exam.

Question 6

What are the responsibilities of all certified pestcide applicators?

Answer 6

1. Abide by the pesticide label. The pesticide label is a legal agreement between the EPA, the product manufacturer and the end user.
2. Supervise employees. For private applicators, this means direct supervison of employees applying RUPs. For commercial applicators, this means direct onsite supervision of uncertified applicators when applying any pesticide (not just RUPs); or direct supervision of registered technicians who are applying RUPs (registered technicans may apply general-use pesticides without direct supervision).
3. Keep Records. Private applicators have 14 days to make a record of RUP applications and to keep records of the application for a minimum of 2 years. In addition, the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requires growers who employ workers to post application information and safety data sheets within 24 hours of an application. Commercial applicators must keep records of ALL pesticide applications and they have 30 days to provide a copy of that record to the client.
4. Report Pesticide Accidents. Report all accidents that pose a threat to people or the environment to Virginia Department of Consumer Services, Office of Pesticide Services (VDACS-OPS) by phone within 48 hours. Follow up with a written report within 10 days.
5. Attend approved continuing education courses.

Question 7

For agricultural producers, when must Worker Protection Standard (WPS) application records be posted?

Answer 7

1. No later than 24 hours after an application is completed.
2. Displayed continuously for 30 days after the last restricted entry interval or until workers are no longer in the area.

Question 8

Who is required to have a Virginia pesticide business license?

Answer 8

• Persons in the business of distributing, applying, or recommending the use of a pesticide product.
• Persons who store or sell pesticides.

Question 9

Who is NOT required to have a Virginia pesticide business license?

Answer 9

1. Businesses that sell pesticides only to other wholesalers or retailers but NOT to end users.
2. Businesses that wholesale or retail less than $50,000 of general use pesticides.
3. Federal, state or local government employees.
4. Certified applicators not for hire who supervise or apply pesticides only as part of their job duties on property that they or their employer owns, leases or controls.
5. Janitorial services that use only disinfectants, germicides and sanitizers.
6. Wood treaters “not for hire”.
7. Agricultural producers.

Question 10

In Virginia, most commercial and all private applicators using restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) must be certified. List situations which DO NOT require certification.

Answer 10

1. Private applicators (growers) who use only general-use pesticides.
2. Farm workers under the direct supervison of a certified private applicator.
3. Laboratory researchers.
4. Medicaldoctors and veterinarians.
5. People in janitorial and sanitizing services.
6. Painters not applying paints classified as RUPs.
7. Supervised TBT boat painters.
8. Forestry weed-control crews using general-use pesticides.
9. Homeowners applying general-use products.
10. Federal, state or local employees who use ready-to-use (RTU) pesticides to protect themselves from stinging and biting insects while doing a job other than pest management.