Using Agricultural Chemicals SafelyUsing Agricultural Chemicals Safely

31.00 Interpret chemical labels to ensure safe pesticide application

32.00 Examine the agricultural chemical manual and its uses

31.00 Interpret chemical labels to ensure safe pesticide application

32.00 Examine the agricultural chemical manual and its uses

PesticidePesticide

• Any material used to control pests (plants or animals that are harmful to human beings or to the crops that they cultivate)

• May be natural or manmade

• Any material used to control pests (plants or animals that are harmful to human beings or to the crops that they cultivate)

• May be natural or manmade

Types of pesticidesTypes of pesticides

• Insecticides-used to control insects• Miticides-control mites (spider-like

animals) and ticks• Fungicides-controls fungal diseases• Herbicides-kill unwanted plants and

weeds• Rodenticides-kill rodents, such as rats and

mice

• Insecticides-used to control insects• Miticides-control mites (spider-like

animals) and ticks• Fungicides-controls fungal diseases• Herbicides-kill unwanted plants and

weeds• Rodenticides-kill rodents, such as rats and

mice

Types of PesticidesTypes of Pesticides

• Nematocides-kill nematodes (tiny hairlike worms that feed on the roots of plants)

• Molluscicides-used to kill slugs and snails

• Nematocides-kill nematodes (tiny hairlike worms that feed on the roots of plants)

• Molluscicides-used to kill slugs and snails

Pesticide SafetyPesticide Safety

• Check the recommended uses to be sure it is the correct substance for the intended use.

• Have clean water and detergents available to wash spills.

• Check the recommended uses to be sure it is the correct substance for the intended use.

• Have clean water and detergents available to wash spills.

Pesticide SafetyPesticide Safety

• Wear correct personal protective equipment (PPE)– gloves, respirator, coveralls, etc.

• Wear correct personal protective equipment (PPE)– gloves, respirator, coveralls, etc.

Pesticide SafetyPesticide Safety

• Use extra caution with concentrated chemicals

• Apply the chemical with care

• Always mix just enough for the job at hand

• Consider weather conditions

• Use extra caution with concentrated chemicals

• Apply the chemical with care

• Always mix just enough for the job at hand

• Consider weather conditions

Pesticide SafetyPesticide Safety

• Guard against inhalation or ingestion– Toxicity can occur by contact with:

• skin (dermal)• eyes (ocular)• mouth (oral)• breathing

• Store and dispose of chemicals properly

• Guard against inhalation or ingestion– Toxicity can occur by contact with:

• skin (dermal)• eyes (ocular)• mouth (oral)• breathing

• Store and dispose of chemicals properly

Pesticide SafetyPesticide Safety

• The most important rule in pesticide safety is to read and follow all directions on the pesticide label because all other rules are included in this one

• The most important rule in pesticide safety is to read and follow all directions on the pesticide label because all other rules are included in this one

Pesticide LabelsPesticide Labels

Pesticide LabelsPesticide Labels

• All pesticide labels will include the following:– Name and address of manufacturer– Trade Name– Active ingredients including official common

name or chemical name of each ingredient– type of pesticide-herbicide, insecticide,

fungicide, etc.

• All pesticide labels will include the following:– Name and address of manufacturer– Trade Name– Active ingredients including official common

name or chemical name of each ingredient– type of pesticide-herbicide, insecticide,

fungicide, etc.

Pesticide LabelsPesticide Labels

– Form of substance-dust wettable powder, fumigant, etc.

– EPA registration number– Storage and disposal precautions– Hazard statement including “Keep out of

reach of children”– Directions for use-mixing, application, etc.– Net contents

– Form of substance-dust wettable powder, fumigant, etc.

– EPA registration number– Storage and disposal precautions– Hazard statement including “Keep out of

reach of children”– Directions for use-mixing, application, etc.– Net contents

Pesticide LabelsPesticide Labels

– Statement of practical treatment stating what to do if a person swallows or is poisoned by spilling the chemical on the skin

– Worker protection procedures including reentry time on how long before a person can enter the treated area

– Statement of practical treatment stating what to do if a person swallows or is poisoned by spilling the chemical on the skin

– Worker protection procedures including reentry time on how long before a person can enter the treated area

Pesticide LabelsPesticide Labels

• Signal Words– Caution-slightly toxic or non-toxic– Warning-moderately toxic– Danger-has skull and crossbones symbol

and poison on the label. • Highly toxic, most poison or lethal

dosage

• Signal Words– Caution-slightly toxic or non-toxic– Warning-moderately toxic– Danger-has skull and crossbones symbol

and poison on the label. • Highly toxic, most poison or lethal

dosage

Choosing PesticidesChoosing Pesticides

• North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual– May be purchased from NC State

University– May be viewed online at:

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/agchem.html

• North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual– May be purchased from NC State

University– May be viewed online at:

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/agchem.html