Basic Pesticide Safety

Reemphasis of some of the important points

Basic Pesticide Safety:Method Selection

Use the method whichIs ecologically effectivePoses lowest risk to the human environmentIs cost effective

Not necessarily a pesticidal methodIf not – pesticide safety is not a concern

In this session we assume pesticide use

Basic Pesticide Safety:Proper Use

Always treat pesticides with Respect

• Know the product• Know its limitations• Read the label• Know the label requirements

Care• Know the application equipment and its limits• Know and follow proper storage, transport and use

procedures

Basic Pesticide Safety:Personnel Safety

Avoid contact with the pesticideWear all designated safety equipment

Be careful of drips and spills

Keep hands away from eyes and mouth

Wash your hands before• Smoking• Eating• Bathroom breaks

Designated safety equipment

Based on the WPS statement on the label & Regional requirements

Minimum in R-8Long sleeved shirt & long pants of tightly woven material

Waterproofed boots

Goggles

Hard hat

Unlined nitrile gloves

Safety equipment

Requirement for nitrile gloves is in conflict with F.S. fire regulations if you are working a fire in a recently treated area

Fire regulations say leather gloves, chemical presence requires nitrile

Unresolved at present – waterproofed leather gloves may ultimately be the compromise position

Safety equipment

It is recommended that a tyvek suit be carried to the field

More for modesty should someone have to change out of contaminated clothes

Virtually useless in the briar patch

Basic Pesticide Safety:Accidental Contact

If you contact a pesticideClean the body parts contacted

• Immediately, and • Thoroughly

Change clothes if necessary

Apply First-Aid, if necessary

If pesticide was swallowed, if it has gotten into the eyes, or if the person contacted is showing any symptoms resulting from the contact – get him or her to a doctor immediately

Basic Pesticide Safety:Serious Exposure

If you have to go to a doctorNotify your dispatcher and have them determine which doctor and prearrange for you to be seen immediately(Which doctor should be determined from your previously prepared Spill Plan which is filed at the dispatcher’s desk)Carry a copy of the label and MSDS to the doctor

Basic Pesticide Safety:Transport

Do not carry pesticides in the passenger compartment of a vehicle

Do not carry “mixed loads”Carry herbicides separately from insecticides from fungicides, etc.

Tie containers down to avoid bouncing them around

Licensing requirements (Hazmat drivers)

DOT regulations: loads greater than 1,000 pounds

HAZMAT certification

Any load greater than 1,000 pounds GROSS weight

With water weighing about 8 pounds per gallon this restricts the load to

Less than 100 gallons of formulated product OR of tank mix in water

Basic Pesticide Safety:Storage

Store pesticides in a separate building

Storage area should be locked

And, access should be strictly limited

(in light of the current emphasis on Homeland Security – these common sense requirements have taken on an importance and life of their own!!)

Basic Pesticide Safety:Storage

Pesticides should be stacked separately

And, ideally, be separated by product type

A current inventory should be available at the dispatcher’s desk

Fire hazard signing should be accurate

Pesticide Safety- Fire Safety Sign

Pesticide Safety – Fire Sign Translated

FSH 6709.11,60 - Exhibits

Basic Pesticide Safety:Spills Preparation

Spill PlanTemplate availableCustomize it to the District – local doctors and emergency response team phone numbers and locationsUpdate for each ongoing project (labels & MSDSs)

Spill kit on truckContents listed last page of spill plan

Basic Pesticide Safety:Spill Plan Document

Typed and legible

Maintained current

Always available at dispatcher’s desk for ready access in the event of an emergency

Basic Pesticide Safety:Spill Plan Document

Provide for care of injured or contaminated personnel

Specific concerns

Identify spilled material

Notify

Basic Pesticide Safety:Spill Plan Document

Who to notify + phone #

What they need to know

Contain the spill

Safety measures to be observed during cleanup

Basic Pesticide Safety:Spill Plan Document

Clean-up

Documentation

Summary –dry spills

Summary –wet spills

Basic Pesticide Safety:Spill Plan Document

Phone numbers of people to notify and people or organizations who can

provide assistance

Basic Pesticide Safety:Spill Plan Document

Storage facility spill kit

Vehicle spill kit

Spill plan

Review before going to the field

In addition – carry label & MSDS to the field

Keep a copy of the current spill plan at the district dispatcher’s desk where it is readily accessed if needed

Basic Pesticide Safety:When a Spill Happens

Take care of injured personnel first!

Contain the spill

Get appropriate help

Basic Pesticide Safety:When a Spill Happens

Reporting required:Dispatcher

District Ranger

Forest Pesticide Coordinator * Forest Supervisor

Regional HAZMAT Coordinator *

Continue talk *

Basic Pesticide Safety:Forest Pesticide Coordinators

Alabama -- Jim Clute

Chatt-Oconee -- Pat Hopton (Tallulah RD)

Cherokee – Ed Brown

Daniel Boone -- Paul Finke

Florida -- Gary Hegg (Wakulla RD)

FMS -- Jay Purnell

GW/J – Russ MacFarlane

Kisatchie --Mississippi -- Jerry WindhamNorth Carolina – John BlantonOuachita -- Finis Harris Ozark -- Jack DavisSavannah River -- Jamie ScottTexas – George Weick

Return *

Basic Pesticide Safety:Regional Hazmat Coordinator

Walt Sternke

404-347-3369

Email: asternke@fs.fed.us

Return *

Basic Pesticide Safety:Environmental Concerns

Already mentioned spillsCaution must be taken to avoid

DriftLeachingRunoff, andOther forms of off-site movement

Labels, MSDS, labeling and other documents help

Basic Pesticide Safety:Environmental Movement

More later

Safety products catalogs

Basic Pesticide Safety:Low Risk Pesticide Use

Low-risk application is the focus of all of our safety messages with respect to pesticides

Most of the remainder of the session will deal with how to do it right