Using Agricultural Chemicals Safely

1
Using Agricultural Chemicals Safely

• 31.00 Interpret chemical labels to ensure safe
  pesticide application
• 32.00 Examine the agricultural chemical manual
  and its uses

2
Pesticide

• 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

3
Types 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

4
Types of Pesticides

• Nematocides-kill nematodes (tiny hairlike worms
  that feed on the roots of plants)
• Molluscicides-used to kill slugs and snails

5
Pesticide 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.

6
Pesticide Safety

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

7
Pesticide Safety

• Use extra caution with concentrated chemicals
• Apply the chemical with care
• Always mix just enough for the job at hand
• Consider weather conditions

8
Pesticide 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

9
Pesticide 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

10
Pesticide Labels
11
Pesticide 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.

12
Pesticide 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

13
Pesticide 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

14
Pesticide 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

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Choosing Pesticides

• North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual
• May be purchased from NC State University
• May be viewed online at http//ipm.ncsu.edu/agch
  em/agchem.html