February is National Pesticide Safety Education Month and this is a time to reinforce the core principals of safe and responsible pesticide use with many audiences, reports Ric Bessin, Entomology Extension Specialist. Pesticides are key tools used to manage a diverse group of pests, diseases, and weeds. Pesticide safety is just as important with pesticides used around homes as it is on farms and businesses.
In Kentucky, Bessin notes, pesticides are defined quite widely and the definition includes any substance or mixture of substances used to prevent, destroy, control, repel, attract, or mitigate any pest; any substances used as plant regulators, defoliants, or desiccants; or any substance used as a spray adjuvant once it has been mixed with an EPA registered product.
This past year, new laws and regulations for pesticides were approved by the Legislature that affect core competencies expected of pesticide applicators, as well as updated training and certification requirements.
Safe use of pesticides does not have a simple, one-size-fits-all solution, but here are some basic pesticide safety principles – a starting point for safety from purchase to disposal.
- Read the entire pesticide label before purchase and use. You are legally required to read and follow everything on the label except the information about crops or sites that you are not going to treat.
- Follow all applicable federal, state, tribal, and local laws and regulations concerning the use of pesticides and personal protective equipment.
- Wash reusable PPE with soap and water after use.
- Seek competent advice if there is something you don’t understand on the label or in other applicable laws and regulations.
- Transport pesticides in the trunk or truck bed, separate from passengers, groceries, or animal feed, and secure the containers to prevent spills.
- Store pesticides in original containers in a locked cabinet or secure area, away from food, feed, or personal protective equipment.
- Follow all applicable Worker Protection Standards information exchanges, notifications, postings, and other requirements.
- Measure and mix pesticides in a well-ventilated area away from children, pets, toys, and food.
- Calibrate and maintain application equipment so that the amount of pesticide applied will be accurate, uniform, and legal.
- Keep pesticides on target – use untreated buffers if necessary or delay the application if conditions favor off-target movement due to wind or water.
- Identify sensitive areas and organisms that could be affected by the application, and take all necessary precautions.
- Do everything possible to prevent spills and leaks; always have an absorbent material such as cat litter or sawdust readily available.
- Wash slightly contaminated work clothes separately before re-use, and follow all directions on care and disposal of personal protective equipment.
- Dispose of pesticides properly, as well as any excess spray mixture, empty containers, and contaminated cleanup material and clothing.
- Always read and follow all pesticide label requirements, as well as all applicable state and federal laws and regulations regarding pesticide use.
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety