Personal Protective Equipment
Head Protection– CSA or NSA approved hard hat
Eye Protection– CSA approved safety glasses with sider shields. Goggles are recommended when mixing and loading concentrated herbicides.
Hand Protection– Chemical resistant gloves with long cuffs are required when mixing and applying herbicides
Foot Protection– Chemical resistant boots (rubber boots) with steel toes/plates in soles are required while spraying but should not be brought inside the truck cab (shoes are alright while driving)
Leg Protection– Rubber/Chemical resistant, rain pants are required while spraying however rain pants with a bib or a chemical resistant apron is required for mixing & loading.
Respiration– A half mask respirator is required for mixing and spraying filter must be for herbicides & fit tested
Bare ground Application
Mixing & Loading– Herbicide vessel will be filled with clean water in an area away from by standers. While filling the tank an air space is required between the solution and the end of the hose. When filling the vessel away from the shop, water will be purchased from a bulk water filling station and put into clean 1000 liter totes. This water will be transferred by water pump into the herbicide vessel.
This is a two person operation with one person at the pump and the other controlling the hose pouring into the vessels.
-The technicians will calculate the required amounts of herbicides to add to the tank which have been selected by the licensed exterminator which will be in writing with the prescribed formulas. The technicians will be trained on which measuring device is required for each herbicide. Each herbicide has different physical properties so require separate measuring containers. Dry powders can be weighed with the scale provided. On target at & Rate of 80ml per 1000L of water and add Flat-out to reduce foaming while filling the tank. Return all herbicides to the chemical box and lock them up
-Agitate the solution for at least five minutes before spraying
Applications
Upon arriving at the application site the area must be assessed for any potential hazards, sensitive vegetation or water features near the extermination site and people near the extermination site. Within 15 feet of conifer trees or ornamentals & back pack will be used to selectively control any vegetation in this area. Appropriate chemicals will be added to the back pack sprayer to avoid off target damage. A weather monitoring form will be completed with the time, date, temperature, location, humidity level, wind speed and direction. If the temperature or wind speed exceeds the limits recommended by the manufacturer the extermination will be postponed.
While spraying, the applicator will hold the spray handle to the side and at waist height while walking at a normal speed the spray area covered per pass will be 1 meter wide. Avoid overlap or holding the nozzle in one place. This creates over use of the herbicide.
Once the extermination is completed a nonresidential sign should be posted at a normal entry point.
The date, geo coordinates, are sprayed in square meters and quantity of herbicides used must be recorded.
Training Requirements
-A spray crew will consist of one licensed exterminator and a trainee or two technicians.
-Exterminators receive their certification through the University of Guelph which requires passing a written exam.
-Technicians must also pass an exam and demonstrate a practical knowledge on how to perform an extermination.
-The Pesticide Industry Regulatory Council (PIRC) is Administered by the Ontario Integrated Pest Management Association (OIPMA) is responsible for the exam which is good for two years. Technicians are allowed to work without direct supervision but must be visited weekly by the licensed exterminator and have written instructions. They must also have the companies IPM certification, Operator license and the Exterminator license they are working under.
-A trainee can only work under the direct supervision of a licensed exterminator and must have a record of training.