Safe Use of Pesticides with Knapsack or Hand Held Applicator (PA6)
Course Title: Safe Use of Pesticides with Knapsack Sprayers
Duration: 1-day course (8 hours)
Course Overview: The “Safe Use of Pesticides with Knapsack Sprayers” course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and effectively use pesticides with knapsack sprayers. This course will cover essential topics such as pesticide handling, application techniques, personal protective equipment (PPE), and environmental considerations. If your job involves applying pesticides in a commercial role then you are legally required by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) (Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986) (as amended) to take this CoC qualification.
Course Objectives: By the end of this course, participants will be able to-
- Understand the importance of safe pesticide use with knapsack sprayers
- Identify different types of pesticides and their formulations
- Recognize potential hazards associated with pesticide use
- Safely handle, mix, and store pesticides
- Select and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Apply pesticides using correct techniques and calibration methods
- Minimize environmental impact through responsible pesticide use.
Course Outline:
- Introduction to Pesticides (30 minutes)
- Definition of pesticides
- Types of pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides)
- Pesticide formulations (liquid, powder, granules)
- Modes of action and target pests
- Pesticide Hazards and Risk Assessment (1 hour)
- Health hazards associated with pesticides
- Routes of exposure (inhalation, dermal, oral)
- Acute and chronic effects of pesticide exposure
- Factors influencing toxicity (concentration, duration, frequency)
- Risk assessment and risk management
- Pesticide Labeling and Regulations (1 hour)
- Understanding pesticide labels
- Safety precautions and instructions
- Legal requirements and regulations
- Restricted-use pesticides
- Record-keeping and documentation
- Pesticide Handling, Storage, and Disposal (1 hour)
- Safe handling practices
- Pesticide storage requirements
- Spill and leak response procedures
- Pesticide disposal methods
- Container recycling and triple rinsing
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (1 hour)
- Importance of PPE in pesticide use
- Types of PPE (protective clothing, gloves, respirators)
- Selection and proper use of PPE
- Maintenance and cleaning of PPE
- Knapsack Sprayer Calibration and Application Techniques (2 hours)
- Calibration of knapsack sprayers
- Proper nozzle selection and adjustment
- Techniques for uniform and efficient spraying
- Factors affecting spray drift
- Best practices for minimizing drift
- Environmental Considerations (1 hour)
- Potential environmental impacts of pesticides
- Water pollution prevention measures
- Buffer zones and no-spray areas
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles
- Alternative pest control methods
- Best Practices and Safety Measures (1 hour)
- Pre-application safety checks
- Emergency preparedness and first aid
- Safe transport of pesticides
- Decontamination procedures
- Proper disposal of empty pesticide containers.
Course Delivery Method: The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures, interactive discussions, practical demonstrations, and hands-on exercises. Participants will have the opportunity to handle knapsack sprayers, practice calibration techniques, and discuss real-world scenarios. The course will also incorporate visual aids, case studies, and group activities to enhance the learning experience.
Assessment and Certification: At the end of the course, participants will be required to complete a written assessment to evaluate their understanding of the topics covered. A minimum passing grade will be required to obtain the course certificate, which will serve as evidence of successful completion of the “Safe Use of Pesticides with Knapsack Sprayers” course.
Note: This course guide serves as an outline and can be customized based on specific requirements, local regulations, and the target audience’s prior knowledge and experience with pesticide use.
Accreditation: City and Guilds (NPTC) or Lantra
Course Duration: 1 Day (+ Separate Assessment)
Maximum number participants: 6
Assessment: Practical
Prerequisites: PA1 (Safe Use of Pesticides)
Price : £360+VAT
What will be covered?
- Preparation of a hand held pesticide applicator for work, calibrate it and operate it to ensure correct application rate without risk to themselves, other people and the environment.
- How to use the information detailed on product labels to determine the approved uses for the product and its potential hazards to human safety, non-target areas and the environment in general.
- How to carry out daily and routine maintenance on a hand held pesticide applicator.
- How to carry out the correct procedure for cleaning personal protective equipment and application equipment which may have been contaminated with pesticide.
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