Kristin Mohn
Published December 11, 2001
At the 2001 Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show in Columbus, Ohio, Terry Grace, pesticide control specialist, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, presented a session highlighting the components of safe pesticide handling and record keeping. The following checklist challenges lawn care applicators to evaluate their practices and whether or not they are observing proper safety procedures:
PERSONAL:
Properly certified to use pesticides that are planned?
Properly trained for this type of application?
PESTICIDE:
Read and thoroughly understand label?
Checked to be sure use is consistent with target pest and application area?
REI noted and recorded?
Know proper rate of pesticide to be applied?
EQUIPMENT:
Proper personal protective equipment (boots, gloves, respiratory equipment, protective clothing, eye protection, headwear as required on pesticide label)?
Necessary measuring and mixing equipment?
Suitable application equipment for the job?
Application equipment properly calibrated?
Emergency water and first aid supplies?
Necessary supplies to contain spills or leaks (absorbent materials, cleaning supplies, holding containers)?
TRANSPORTING:
Can transport pesticides safely to application site?
Pesticides and containers secured from theft or unauthorized access?
MIXING AND LOADING:
Safe mixing and loading site located?
Obtained clean water for mixing?
Water pH tested?
Checked compatibility of pesticide tank mixes or fertilzer-pesticide combinations?
Liquid containers triple rinsed with rinsate put into spray tank?
TREATMENT SITE:
Boundaries of treatment site inspected?
Environmentally sensitive areas within and around treatment area are identified?
Notified field workers of planned applications?
Treatment site properly posted with required signs?
Soil types determined and noted, if these are factors in pesticide efficacy?
Livestock, pets, honey bees, other animals properly protected?
Aspects of surface and ground water determined, if applicable?
Hazards within treatment site identified, including electrical wires and outlets, ignition sources, obstacles, steep slopes and other dangerous conditions?
Plants in treatment area in proper condition for pesticide application (correct growth stage, not under moisture stress, other requirements as specified on pesticide label)?
WEATHER CONDITIONS:
Weather is suitable for application (low wind, proper temperature, fog or rainfall)?
APPLICATION:
Application pattern established suitable for treatment area, hazards and prevailing weather conditions?
Application rate selected that will give most uniform coverage?
Equipment frequently checked during application to assure that everything worked properly and provided a uniform application?
CLEAN-UP
Application equipment properly cleaned after application?
Personal protective equipment cleaned or laundered according to approved methods and then safely stored?
Disposable materials disposed of in an approved way?
DISPOSAL:
Paper pesticide containers burned or disposed of according to local regulations?
Plastic and metal containers triple rinsed?
Plastic and metal containers properly stored in suitable area until recycled or disposed?
STORAGE:
Unused pesticides returned to supplier or stored in locked facility for later use?
Storage facility is suitable for pesticides?
RECORD KEEPING:
Application records completed and filed to comply with Ohio and Federal pesticide laws?
Application recorded and posted at central information site (if required)?
FOLLOW-UP:
Treatment areas inspected after application to assure that pesticide controlled target pests without causing undue damage to non-target organisms or surfaces of items in treatment area?
Damage assessed to crop and surroundings?
Information submitted by Terrence Grace, pesticide control specialist, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
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