Unit 8. Pesticide-Handling Decisions

Question 1

What basic safety questions should you ask yourself whenever you or those you supervise will be handling pesticides?

Answer 1

1. Have I read the labeling?
2. How can I avoid exposure to pesticides?
3. What personal protective equipment (PPE) do I need?
4. Is my application equipment ready and safe?
5. How can I avoid accidental pesticide contamination?
6. Have I given proper instruction to the handlers that I supervise?
7. Am I prepared for emergencies?
8. Are people and animals out of the area that I plan to treat?

Question 2

List the two (2) major responsibilities you have when you apply pesticides.

Answer 2

1. Protect yourself, others, and the environment.
2. Make sure that you apply the pesticide correctly.

Question 3

List things that you can do to avoid exposing yourself to pesticides.

Answer 3

1. Keep clothing, food, drinkings, chewing gum, tobacco products, and other belongings away from where pesticides are stored or handled.
2. Before taking a break, wash gloves on the outside, carefully remove them, and wash your face and hands thoroughly.
3. Avoid getting pesticide on yourself when you use the toilet.
4. Do not tear paper or cardboard containers when opening them. Use a knife or scissors to avoid rupturing the container.
5. Place pesticide containers on a flat, stable surface when opening them. Close them tightly after each use.
6. When pouring a pesticide, keep the container and pesticide below face level.
7. If there is a wind outdoors or a strong air current indoors, stand with your back to the air current so that the pesticide does not blow in your face; or find another place to mix and load.
8. When transferring wettable powders, dusts, or other dry formulations, avoid spilling or inhaling dusts.
9. NEVER use your mouth to siphon pesticide from the conitainer.
10. Protect yourself during mixing, loading, and application; during spill cleanup; and when repairing or maintaining equipment.
11. Use great care when transporting, storing, or disposing of pesticide containers that are open or have pesticides on their outer surface.
12. Use PPE when necessary to keep pesticides from getting on your skin and in your mouth, eyes, or lungs.

Question 4

You have been handling pesticides. List ways in which you can accidentally contaminate others with pesticides.

Answer 4

1. Touching objects, people, or animals with pesticide-contaminated gloves.
2. Sitting on a chair or in your car while wearing soiled PPE.
3. Using the telephone or toilet at work or at home, during or right after a pesticide application.
4. Taking pesticide-contaminated clothing or other items home. Unless carefully handled, these items can transfer pesticides to carpeting, furniture, laundry items, pets, and people.

Question 5

What three (3) steps should you take in a pesticide-poisoning emergency?

Answer 5

1. Remove the victim from the exposure zone immediately.
2. Summon medical assistance quickly.
3. Provide first aid to the victim.

Question 6

List some potential problems caused by the incorrect use of pesticides.

Answer 6

1. Wasted material (wasted money).
2. Failure to control the target pest.
3. Damage to the target site.
4. Both immediate and long-term harm to humans and other living things, property, and other parts of the environment.
5. Fines and legal actions charging you with liability.

Question 7

When choosing a pesticide, who can advise you as to the best choice?
1. Your pesticide dealer.
2. Your Virginia Cooperative Extension agent.
3. Trade associations (e.g. Virginia Pest Management Association. See https://www.vapesticidesafety.com/industry_associations.shtml).
4. All of the above.

Answer 7

4. All of the above.

Question 8

The pesticide that you have chosen may be available in several formulations. List factors to consider when choosing a pesticide formulation.

Answer 8

• Application site. Will the formulation harm nontarget organisms or surfaces in the treatment area?
• Application equipment. Do you have access to the necessary application equipment for a particular formulation? Is it in good working order? Is it designed to be used on the application site?
• Pesticide movement. Is the formulation likely to drift or runoff from the application site?
• Personal safety. Is the formulation unreasonably hazardous to applicators, workers, and other people or animals that are likely to be exposed? Is there a safer alternative?
• Target pest. Is the formulation likely to control the target pest in its natural habitat?
• Surface characteristics. Is the target surface suitable for the chosen formulation?
• Cost. Is the formulation cost-effective for the intended application?

Question 9

True or false: A drift-reducing adjuvant, such as a sticker, can increase your risk of pesticide exposure.

Answer 9

True. Stickers may cause the pesticide to stick to PPE, other clothing, and skin.

Question 10

Name at least five (5) application-site conditions that may influence your application procedures.

Answer 10

1. Type of space to be treated (ex. agricultural field vs. silo vs. nursing home).
2. Type of surface to be treated (ex. soil, plant, wood, concrete, or fabric).
3. Surface cleanliness (dirt and organic debris may interfere with the effectiveness of pesticides).
4. Surface moisture (excessive wetness or dryness may prevent the pesticide from contacting the target pest).
5. Temperature, sunlight, and humdity (these factors can influence how well some pesticides work).
6. Rain or irrigation water (water may be helpful or harmful, depending on when it occurs).
7. Air movemement (wind or ventilation can greatly alter the effectiveness of a pesticide application).

Question 11

Explain how temperature can affect how well a pesticide works.

Answer 11

• Low temperatures slow down or stop the activity of some pesticides.
• High temperatures increase the chance that some pesticides will vaporize.
• High temperatures may cause some pesticides that have not been absorbed, to break down prematurely.

Question 12

How might soil characteristics affect applicatoin rates of a soil-applied pesticide?

Answer 12

• When applying pesticides to a soil high in organic matter, some pesticide labeling will allow you to use a higher rate.
• When applying pesticides to a fine-textured soil (soil high in silt + clay), some pesticide labeling may direct you to use a higher rate.
• When applying pesticides to a coarse-textured soil (sandy soil), the labeling may recommend that you use a lower rate.

Question 13

Why is pesticide drift such a problem?

Answer 13

• The pesticide may drift off-target and lead to poor pest control.
• The pesticide may drift off-target and cause harm to non-target organisms and surfaces.

Question 14

“Best management practices” (BMPs) are a set of practices designed to optimize a particular outcome. What BMPs should you follow when applying a pesticide?

Answer 14

1. Adopt safe mixing and loading practices. Choose the mixing and loading area carefully. Must be easy to work in, outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, well-lit and away from people, animals, food, other pesticides, and other sensitive items.
2. Measure the pesticide carefully. Gather necessary measuring utensils. Make sure they are clearly marked as hazardous. After use, clean and store them securely.
3. Calibrate your equipment. Measure the delivery rate and distribution of your application equipment before applying the pesticide. Adjust as needed.
4. Inspect the treatment area. Locate sensitive areas and nontarget organisms. Come up with a plan to protect people working or living in or near the treatment area.
5. Accurately deliver the pesticide to the target site. Make sure that the pesticide is reaching the target.
6. Check the delivery rate. Ensure that you are applying the correct amount evenly. Adjust as needed.
7. Check for appearance. Note the color and consistency of the pesticide you are releasing.
8. Avoid nontarget organisms. Keep all bystanders, pets, and livestock out of the treatment area. Check the label for the reentry interval.
9. Avoid nontarget surfaces. Remove or protect anything that should not be contaminated with pesticides.
10. Operate equipment safely. Turn off your equipment when you pause for any reason. Fix mechanical problems right away using the proper tools.

Question 15

Why might you schedule a pesticide application after normal business hours?

Answer 15

• It is less likely that other people will be nearby.
• It is more likely to be cooler, reducing concerns of heat stress and pesticide vaporization.
• It is more likely that the wind is low and indoor ventilation systems turned down or off.
• There will be no sun in outdoor or glass-roofed sites.

Question 16

You have finished a pesticide application. What should you do?

Answer 16

1. Wash your pesticide application equipment, then wash yourself.
2. Return equipment to its dedicated storage place.
3. Safely store or dispose of remaining pesticide materials.
4. Be sure that your worksite presents no hazards to people or the environment.
5. Make a record of what you have applied and conditions at the application site.

Question 17

True or false: Cleaning pesticide-contaminated equipment presents less risk than applying pesticides.

Answer 17

False. Equipment cleaning presents a great risk of pesticide exposure. All parts of the equipment are likely to have pesticide residues on them.

Question 18

Why is it important to remove all traces of pesticide from your equipment after an application?

Answer 18

• Even small amounts of pesticide residue can cause damage if left on equipment. Pestcides can corrode equipment, clog nozzle openings and cause leaks.
• Pesticide residues can settle at the bottom of the tank and if left to dry, become difficult or impossible to remove.

Question 19

What is the procedure for preparing a sprayer for storage at the end of the season?

Answer 19

1. Add 1 to 5 gallons of lightweight oil (depending on tank size) before performing a final flushing. The oil leaves a protective coating on the inside of the tank, pump, and plumbing.
2. Remove nozzles and screens and store in a can with light oil.
3. Add a little oil to the pump and rotate it a few turns to distribute the oil.
4. Replace any broken or worn-out parts.
5. Store empty metal or plastic containers until they can be recycled or properly disposed of.

Question 20

When you have finished handling pesticides, how should you clean yourself?

Answer 20

1. Wash the outside of your gloves first.
2. Carefully peel back your PPE being careful not to expose yourself.
3. Remove any clothing that has pestcide on it.
4. If you cannot shower right away, wash exposed areas of the body – your face, hands, and forearms, especially – with a mild detergent.
5. As soon as you can – no later than the end of the day – wash your entire body and hair thoroughly with a mild detergent and plenty of warm water.
6. Put PPE and work clothing into a plastic bag or box until it can be laundered.

Question 21

Why keep records of your pesticide applications?

Answer 21

1. It is often a legal requirement (for example, for commercial applicators, or when anyone applies RUPs).
2. Records document that you used to pestcide correctly.
3. Good records save time and money by recording what works and what doesn’t.
4. Record-keeping is important to document exact formulation, type of application equipment (ex. spray nozzle size and type), condition of the treatment area, weather conditions at the time of application, etc.
5. Good records of your pesticide inventory can reduce overstock and waste. Buy only the amount of pestcide that you need.