General Exam Study Guide

Transcription

1 General Exam Study Guide This study guide is intended to serve as an outline of the knowledge base covered by the General Pesticide Safety Core Exam. If you don t understand a term, concept, or statement, refer to the National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual for more information. This exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions taken from the core manual. Topics include: 1. Proper Conduct/Laws/Liability 2. Pest Management 3. Label Comprehension 4. Hazards/First Aid 5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 6. Transportation/Storage/Spills 7. Pesticide Application 8. Formulations 9. Pesticides and the Environment 1. Proper Conduct/Laws/Liability a. The United States Environmental Protection Agency enforces the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The New Mexico Department of Agriculture enforces the New Mexico Pesticide Control Act and the rules authorized under the Act. b. "Direct supervision" means under the instruction and control of a certified applicator, who is available if and when needed. c. Certified applicators must be at the application site when state law and/or the label require that they be present. 2. Pest Management a. Non-selective herbicides are generally toxic to all plants regardless of type or species. A herbicide that will control grasses but not harm broadleaf plants is an example of a selective herbicide. b. Pesticide residue is the pesticide, active ingredient, and/or breakdown products that remain on the treated surface or in the environment after an application. c. The four main groups of pests are weeds, invertebrates, disease agents, and vertebrates. d. Identify unknown pests by collecting samples and having them identified by experts or by consulting reference materials such as field guides or extension bulletins. e. Selective pesticides are toxic to some pests but have little or no effect on other similar species, or affect only specific stages of development. f. Examples of cultural control techniques in turf management include mowing, irrigation management, aeration, and fertilization management. g. Examples of cultural control techniques in agricultural crops include crop selection, rotation, timing of planting and harvesting, and irrigation management. h. Key components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) include: Identify and understand the pest; monitor the pest s population and life stage; develop a pest management goal and strategy; implement IPM techniques; keep records; and evaluate the results of the IPM program. NMDA General Exam Study Guide Page 1

2 i. To manage pesticide resistance you can use new or altered pesticides, change pesticide use patterns, treat only when necessary and treat alternative generations of the pest with different pesticides. j. Continual use of the same pesticide or class of pesticide will increase the likelihood of pesticide resistance. k. Preventative pest control strategies include applying pre-emergent herbicides to crops or landscape beds, applying fungicides before infection occurs, and applying pesticides to structural lumber before construction. l. A systemic pesticide is absorbed and translocated (moved) within a plant or animal. m. A contact pesticide is not absorbed but must touch, or come in contact with, the target pest to be effective. n. All types of pesticides may injure plants, but herbicides are particularly hazardous when used near desirable plants. o. A pesticide s mode of action is how the pesticide works. p. Examples of natural pest controls include climatic factors such as temperature or rainfall and naturally occurring predators or parasites. q. The first step to effective pest control is identifying the pest. r. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can manage pest populations while reducing pesticide applications, maintaining a balanced ecosystem, and lowering operating costs, and can result in longer lasting pest management. s. Biological, cultural, physical, genetic, mechanical, and chemical control methods are all applied pest controls. t. Pesticides may be used to control many kinds of pests including insects and other invertebrates, weeds, plant diseases, and rodents. 3. Label Comprehension a. The manufacturer is responsible for developing pesticide labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on specific chemicals and providing them on request. b. To determine the proper type of personal protective clothing and equipment needed you should consider the signal word and all precautionary statements (route of entry and specific precautions to reduce exposure) on the label. c. A restricted use pesticide (RUP) may only be used by a certified applicator or a licensed operator/technician. d. Before using a pesticide you should be familiar with first aid procedures which are generally found in the First Aid or Statement of Practical Treatment section of the label. e. The Specific Action Statement recommends specific precautions to take and PPE to wear to reduce exposure to the pesticide. f. The Routes of Entry Statement indicates the types of exposure (mouth, skin, lungs) that are particularly hazardous to applicators. g. The signal word on a label provides an indication of the toxicity of the product to humans and animals. h. The signal word Danger-Poison along with the skull and crossbones symbol, means the pesticide is highly toxic. i. The signal word Warning means the pesticide is moderately toxic. j. The EPA Registration Number tells you that the pesticide has been registered by EPA and that the label has been approved by EPA. NMDA General Exam Study Guide Page 2

3 k. EPA restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) include the label statement, For retail sale to and use only by certified applicators or persons under direct supervision and only for those users covered by the certified applicator s certification. l. The active ingredients in a pesticide kill or repel the target pest; inert ingredients make up the rest of the formulation. m. An applicator should read the pesticide label and supplemental label thoroughly before buying, mixing, applying, storing or disposing of a pesticide. n. The label is the information printed on or attached to the pesticide containers. o. Labeling is the label itself plus all information referenced or received from the manufacturer. p. The label is a legal document providing directions on how to mix the product, how to apply the product, how to store the product and how to dispose of the product. q. The statement, Keep Out of Reach of Children must appear along with the signal word on a pesticide label. 4. Hazards/First Aid a. Applicators, mixers, loaders, flaggers and early entry agriculture workers are required to follow all PPE instructions that appear on the label. b. Symptoms of pesticide exposure can include skin rashes and blisters, nausea and vomiting, headaches and dizziness, and body aches and muscle cramps. c. Lack of sweat, heavy sweating, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, nausea, are all symptoms of heat stress also. d. Illnesses or injuries that do not appear immediately (within 24 hours) after exposure to a pesticide are known as chronic effects. e. The genital area of the body absorbs more pesticides than others. f. Toxicity is the ability of a pesticide to cause short-term or long-term injury. g. Exposure occurs when pesticides get onto or into the body. h. The potential for harm to occur because of a product's toxicity and the risk of human exposure is referred to as the hazard of using the pesticide. i. Pesticides may enter the human body through oral (by mouth), dermal (skin), inhalation (breathing), and eye contact. j. If a pesticide gets in your eyes, gently wash eyes with clean running water for several minutes and consult the label for additional first aid instructions. k. Pesticide poisoning can best be prevented by understanding the pesticide and how to use it safely. 5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) a. It helps to wear, at a minimum, long sleeved shirts, long pants, and shoes and socks, and to wash clothes after each use. b. Hands and forearms are the areas of the body most likely to be exposed to pesticides. c. You should wear your sleeves over your gloves if you are using a back pack sprayer and will be spraying where your hands are mostly lowered, and gloves outside your sleeves when spraying above your head. d. The purpose of a respirator fit test is to make sure your respirator fits tightly and no contaminated air can leak in around the filter. e. You should inspect your respirator before each use. NMDA General Exam Study Guide Page 3

4 f. You should wash work clothes separately from family laundry and run the washer once without anything it after washing potentially contaminated clothing. g. Reusable PPE should be cleaned between uses. h. A pesticide's formulation, toxicity, and the kind of application to be made all influence the type of respirator necessary for an application. i. Any time you handle pesticides, you should wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and socks with your shoes, in addition to all PPE required by the label, to increase your protection. 6. Transportation/Storage/Spills a. In the event of a pesticide spill, avoid contact with any drift or fumes that may be released, use absorbent material to contain the spill, and notify the appropriate agencies if the spilled material gets into a body of water. b. If there is a spill indoors, set up a portable fan, open the doors and windows, and get out of the building. c. Spill kits should be kept where pesticides are mixed, loaded, stored or transported. d. Spill kits generally contain emergency telephone numbers, PPE, containment pads or dikes, and fire extinguishers. e. You should never carry pesticides or application equipment in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. f. Whenever possible, transport pesticides in a locked compartment or secured container. g. Never leave a pesticide unattended in an open vehicle where unauthorized persons could get to it. h. Always lock up your spray tanks when they contain pesticide mixtures. i. When you notice a damaged pesticide container, the first thing you should do is contain any spill. j. Service containers must be labeled with the trade name or common name of the pesticide they contain. k. The suggested guidelines to follow in case of a spill are known as the three C s: Control, Contain, and Clean Up. l. To minimize pesticide storage, you should keep records of previous product usage to estimate future use, pay attention to any shelf life listed on the label, mark each pesticide container with the purchase date, and keep an inventory of all pesticides in storage. m. Pesticides in storage should have legible labels, or if the label is destroyed, should be marked with the trade and common name, EPA number, the signal word, the percentages of each active ingredient it contains, and its use classification. 7. Pesticide Application a. Before applying a pesticide, you should read the label to determine what safety measures must be followed, where you can legally use the pesticide, how to apply the pesticide, and if there are any special restrictions. b. Safe mixing and loading practices include selecting an appropriate mixing/loading area, protecting water sources, selecting proper PPE for the job, and measuring the pesticide properly. c. The best place to mix and load pesticides is outdoors with plenty of fresh air and light. d. Closed systems are designed to prevent pesticides from coming in contact with handlers or others during mixing and loading. NMDA General Exam Study Guide Page 4

5 e. Both triple rinsed and pressure rinsed containers are considered non-hazardous waste. f. The rinsate from cleaning an empty pesticide container should be disposed of by pouring it into the spray tank with the final mix. g. Both rinsable and non-rinsable containers should be disposed of according to label directions and federal, state and local laws. h. Rinsable containers should be triple rinsed and punctured to render them unusable. i. Some non-rinsable containers are designed to be returned to the dealer or manufacturer. j. When pressure-rinsing a container you should always allow the pesticide to drain into the tank for 30 seconds. Then while holding the container over the tank, push the pressure nozzle through its side, rinse for 30 seconds with the rinse water flowing directly into the tank, and slow the flow of the water to thoroughly rinse the container into the spray tank. k. The Directions for Use section of the label describes which crops, animals, or sites the pesticide may legally be used on. l. Pesticides that cannot be mixed together are considered incompatible. m. Pesticides that can be mixed together effectively are considered compatible. n. Some factors to consider when determining when to apply a pesticide include the life cycle of the pest, the presence of any natural predators or other controls, and weather conditions. o. Spray drift is affected by nozzle type, orifice size, sprayer pressure, and the height of the nozzle, as well as environmental conditions. p. To help minimize off-target drift you should select equipment and pressure that will result in the largest droplets practical. q. An air-blast or mist sprayer uses both water and air as carriers. r. A backpack sprayer is a type of hydraulic sprayer. s. The target pest, type of application to be made, desired coverage, and drift potential should be considered when selecting a nozzle for your spray application. 8. Formulations a. The active and inert ingredients together make up a pesticide formulation. b. When a wettable powder (WP) is mixed with water it does not dissolve but forms a suspension. c. A solution is formed when a substance completely dissolves in a liquid. d. Water-dispersible granules (WDG) and dry flowables (DF) generally cause the least inhalation hazard to the applicator during handling. e. Granules (G) are made from tiny particles of materials such as clay or ground-up corncobs that can be coated or soaked with the pesticide s active ingredient. f. An emulsifiable concentrate (EC) is one example of a liquid formulation. g. Stickers can reduce the amount of pesticide that washes off during irrigation or rain. h. Thickeners increase the viscosity or thickness of spray mixtures. i. A soluble powder (SP or WSP) formulation dissolves readily in water. j. A precise, pre-measured amount of some pesticides is available in water-soluble packets, which reduces the risk of inhaling or contacting the pesticide during mixing and loading. k. When one liquid is dispersed into another liquid, an emulsion is formed. l. Pesticides are available in many forms, including liquid (spray), dry (solid), microencapsulated, and water-soluble packets. m. Ultra Low Volume (ULV) formulations often are especially prone to drifting off target. NMDA General Exam Study Guide Page 5

6 n. Fumigants are non-selective pesticides in a gaseous form that kill pests when they are inhaled or absorbed by the pest. 9. Pesticides and the Environment a. Photodegradation is the process by which pesticides are broken down or degraded by sunlight. b. Microbial action is the process by which pesticides are broken down by soil microorganisms. c. Pesticides become problems when they move away from the target area by any means. d. Pesticide movement away from the application site by wind or air currents is called drift. e. Vapor drift and volatization refer to the movement of gaseous pesticide vapors away from the application site. f. To avoid drift, applicators should be especially aware of spray droplet size, wind direction, and wind speed. g. Air movement (wind) is the most important environmental factor influencing the drift of a pesticide from the target area. h. Low relative humidity and high temperature are additional environmental factors that increase the potential for spray drift. i. The movement of solid particles from the target area by air during or just after application is referred to as particle drift. j. Point source water pollution comes from a specific, identifiable source, such as mixing/loading sites where careless spills or improper disposal have occurred. k. Non point source water pollution comes from a wide area such as an agricultural field or large right-of-way or turf area. l. To help prevent pesticide contamination of surface and ground water, one recommendation or Best Management Practice (BMP) is to consider the weather forecast, specifically rainfall probability, when planning an application. m. Adsorption (not absorption) is the process whereby a pesticide binds to soil particles. n. A pesticide that adsorbs to soil particles is less likely to leach or otherwise move from the application site. o. The applicator is ultimately responsible for managing drift and ensuring his pesticide application is on target. p. Highly soluble pesticides are more likely to move with water in surface runoff or by movement through the soil water (leaching). q. Runoff or leaching of pesticides is more likely to occur when too much pesticide is applied, water moves the pesticide through the soil off-site or into groundwater, highly water soluble pesticides are used, and/or pesticides are used persistently. r. Pesticides are more likely to leach through a light (sandy) soil that is low in organic matter than through a heavy (high clay content) soil high in organic matter. s. To help protect bees from pesticide injury, apply pesticides in the evenings or during early morning when bees are not foraging. t. Sensitive areas are locations where people could easily be exposed to a pesticide, such as schools, parks, food processing areas, homes and shops. Pesticide labels may contain statements that list special precautions around sensitive areas, endangered species, or water. NMDA General Exam Study Guide Page 6