FSA Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Guidance Document
Pregnancy Guidelines based on the Code of Practice on the Protection of Employees During Pregnancy and After the Birth of a Child as required under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act No.75 of 1997. Please note, this is only a guidance document. You are responsible for how the Code is implemented into company policies and procedures.
Section 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) 85 of 1993 places an obligation on employers to protect the health of employees who are exposed to hazards at work. This is based on the risk management approach of identifying the hazards present in the workplace, determining the risks associated with exposure to these hazards, and implementing protective measures to protect the health of workers against the impact of these hazards.
To this end, employers should also recognise that the vulnerability of certain groups or individuals to hazards needs to be considered in the management of these risks. In the 2020 document from FAO and WHO “Guidelines for personal protection when handling and applying pesticide – International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management”, vulnerable groups in this particular regard are defined as (our emphasis) “persons that include pregnant and nursing women, the unborn, infants and children, the elderly, HIV/AIDS affected people and, when subject to high exposure to pesticides over the long term, workers and residents.”
Section 6 of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) 55 of 1998 prohibits unfair employment practice discrimination on grounds of pregnancy, while section 26 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) 75 of 1997 prohibits a pregnant or breastfeeding woman from performing tasks hazardous to her health or the health of her child. Furthermore, employers are compelled to, during an employee’s pregnancy and for a period of six months after the birth of her child, offer her suitable alternative employment on terms and conditions that are no less favourable than her ordinary terms and conditions of employment.
In terms of Section 87(2) of the BCEA, a Code of Good Practice on the Protection of Employees During Pregnancy and After the Birth of a Child was published in 1997 (the Code). The Code lists the hazards that need to be identified and assessed for the protection of pregnant and breastfeeding employees at work as:
1. Physical hazards
2. Ergonomic hazards
3. Chemical hazards
4. Biological hazards
This Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Guidance document is particularly concerned with issues related to the protection of pregnant and breastfeeding employees against chemical hazards at work, and only this aspect will be addressed in this guidance document.
Click here to download FSA Pregnancy Guidelines
The electronic label confirms that the pesticide has been legally registered for use in South Africa and complies with Fertiliser, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies & Stock Remedies (Act No. 36 of 1947).
This contains all the relevant environmental, health and safety information along with the key chemical information, including:
1) Information to identify the: substance/mixture; company (including emergency telephone numbers)
2) Hazard identification
3) Information about and composition of the ingredients
4) First aid measures
5) Firefighting measures
6) Accidental release measures
7) Handling and storage
8) Exposure control / personal protection
9) Physical and chemical properties
10) Stability and reactivity
11) Toxicological information
12) Ecological information
13) Disposal considerations
14) Transport information
15) Regulatory information
16) Other information
To acquire a CoA for a new pesticide the manufacturer has to submit the following:
- Full details on the manufacturing process;
- The identity and purity of all Technical Grade Active Ingredients (TGAI);
- The identity and quantities of its impurities. This is specified in the “Guidelines on Equivalence of Agricultural Remedies (pesticide)” issued by the Registrar, Act No. 36 of 1947.
The above information needs to be substantiated by an analytical report on 5 different production batches of the TGAI.
This report needs to be done by either:
- An ISO 17025 accredited laboratory a certified Global Laboratory Practices (GLP) compliant laboratory
The TGAI must conform to internationally recognised specifications or standards.
If the results of the 5-batch analysis are inconclusive, a test for mutagenicity (Ames test) done by a laboratory complying with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) principles on GLP will be required. In cases where the active ingredient does not have a known minimum percentage purity, a CoA from an ISO 17025 or GLP accredited laboratory will be accepted in place of the 5-batch analysis.
TIPWG has the authority to determine who qualifies as an expert.
Generally, it is considered to be:
- Someone who is unbiased, and has extensive knowledge and understanding in the field of chemicals and/or pesticides;
- Someone who has an understanding of the forestry industry and the various certification schemes;
- Someone who is recognised as a leader in their field.
The TIPWG expert will then check to ensure the pesticide complies with the following:
Compliance with Fertiliser, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and & Stock Remedies Act No. 36 of 1947
This involves double checking that the pesticide is registered in South Africa for forestry applications and is done by searching for the pesticide on the following website:
- agri-intel.com has all the information about registered pesticides along with their labels.
When it comes to the label, every section is checked for compliance with Act No. 36 of 1947 and the label is then scrutinised to ensure the correct information (i.e. dosages etc.) is presented. Aside being GHS compliant, all information presented on the SDS must also conform to the regulations of Act No. 36 of 1947 and the technical information needs to be double checked to ensure everything is correct.
Quality check list for the CoA
The first step is to check the credentials of the laboratory used and the authenticity of the analytical report. This needs to be done as occasionally fraudulent copies are submitted. If the product specifications are in doubt, a container is bought and the quality of the active ingredients is tested, along with the quantities of any impurities. This is very important as these impurities could be banned ‘highly hazardous pesticides’.
The FSC filter
The FSC published their latest FSC Pesticide Policy (FSC-POL-30-001 V3-0 EN) in May 2019. This Policy lays out FSC’s position for managing the use of chemical pesticides in FSC-certified management units in consistency with Criterion 10.7 of FSC-STD-01-001 V5-2 FSC Principles and Criteria, which requires, inter alia, the use of integrated pest
management.
FSC identifies HHPs according to the internationally recognized hazard criteria. The criteria, indicators and thresholds are listed in the policy. FSC also classifies HHPs into three categories based on prioritized hazard groups and criteria, as follows:
- FSC prohibited HHPs
- FSC highly restricted HHPs:
- FSC restricted HHPs
The SAFAS filter
All new products have to pass the Sustainable African Forestry Assurance Scheme Filter, the components of which are outlined in SAFAS 4:2018 Issue One (2018-05-22) Forest Management Standard Outlines the Requirement for Pesticide Use. SAFAS identifies four requirements a pesticide must fulfil to be available for use in a SAFAS certified forest:
- Compliance with the Fertiliser, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act (No36 of 1947)
- NOT be listed by the World Heath Organisation as a Type 1A or Type 1B pesticide
- NOT contain Chlorinated Hydrocarbons whose derivatives remain biologically active and accumulate in the food chain beyond their intended use
- NOT be banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 2001 – as amended
NOTE: First and final bullet are already addressed by the APL process as mandatory TIPWG requirements.
Forest protection strategies used in South African plantations include the use of pesticides where appropriate and necessary. The TIPWG approved pesticides list is a single handy reference that indicates those options that are effective when used correctly; are legally registered for the specific use; and are approved for use by FSC and SAFAS.
In addition to the active ingredient, all other constituents of a pesticide formulation as per label and SDS, are screened for compliance by appropriate experts. Forestry South Africa through TIPWG maintains this list with input from researchers, experts in the field, and agricultural pesticide suppliers to ensure compliance.
Furthermore, FSA members can access a version of the TIPWG APL with ESRA mitigations included. This is available from the Members Section of the TIPWG website. The ESRA mitigations can then be adapted and adopted by FSA members into their own management plans.
Re-established – Zero to one year for Eucalyptus and wattle, or zero to three years for pine.
- Weeds should be controlled before and after felling. This ensures that pre-planting weeding operations are effective and productive.
Established– one year and onwards for Eucalyptus and wattle and four years and onwards for pine
- For the most part, there is little to no need for weed control within pulpwood rotation compartments once you have canopy closure – except in the case of alien invasive species (AIS).
- Compartments on a sawlog rotation will need to be re-assessed for weed control after each thinning operation due to canopy exposure.
Pre-plant applications
- A total cover spray before planting is essential to ensure that the area is weed-free for as long as possible, giving young trees more time to establish themselves before riskier, and costly weed control/management operations have to be used.
- Timing and quality of the operation is critical to ensure effectiveness.
Post-plant applications
- The focus is to eradicate all competing weeds within ~25cm around the tree for the initial zero to one/zero to three-year period with a focus on the AIS. Inter-row weeding should then not be more than 25%, specifically targeting weeds that have reached a height of 50cm as these compete for nutrients and water.
Eucalyptus and wattle compartments under 12 months and pine compartments under three years are more susceptible to weeds and therefore need to be prioritised.
Research shows that the removal of weeds, thus competition for resources, has significant benefits:
- Eucalyptus trees kept free from weed competition have a substantially higher yield.
- Pine trees have an improved survival if kept weed-free for the first three months. Weeding thereafter has no significant growth benefit but does have advantages such as reduced fire fuel loads and airflow in frost-prone areas.
The weed spectrum present will dictate the control methods used. As a result the following weed characteristics should be identified:
- The presence of broadleaf weeds or grasses and the ratio of each.
- Whether the weed species are annual or perennials and the ratio of each.
- Life cycle – the aim is to eliminate weeds, not wound them. This means knowing their life cycle and targeting the growth stage where they are most susceptible to pesticide control measures. This minimises the amount of herbicide required and improves the productivity of the application method.
- Presence of AIS.
- Presence of invasive indigenous species.
- When conducting spraying operations, weeds should be targeted as young as possible, whilst at the same time, ensuring that there is an adequate weed flush, and in some cases, sufficient leaf material to absorb the herbicide.
Threshold levels identify when weed control becomes cost effective and necessary. Threshold levels are dependent on numerous factors, and can therefore differ for the same species of weed between compartments as well as land-use types. It is important to know the threshold level for each species and compartment.
Factors impacting threshold level:
Age of tree species planted threshold levels will be lower for younger trees as they are more susceptible to weed competition.
Species of tree and end use – Pines are susceptible to competition from weeds for a longer period than Eucalyptus and wattle, so will have longer and lower threshold levels. It should be noted that weed susceptibility also varies between different genera and hybrids. Knowledge of the trees’ response to weed competition is crucial.
Species of weed(s) – Physical and behavioural characteristics of individual weed species will dictate the threat level they pose, thus where the threshold levels are set.
- The presence of certain species identified as posing specific threats to trees, or biodiversity in general, should alone be enough to initiate control measures.
- Other species will be tolerated at low levels, but once they reach a certain point, control measures must be initiated. Continual monitoring will be required if their presence is noted.
Damage incurred – The type of damage incurred to the tree, or natural ecosystem, will dictate where threshold levels are set and the extent of control necessary.
Cost of control product can also be an inhibiting factor and should always be considered and weighed against the potential cost of damage incurred without weed control.
Cost of application method – There are significant differences in the financial and time costs of different application methods. These need to be considered when determining threshold levels, as well as the costs of additional monitoring, if weeds are left untreated.
There are several different weed control methods available. These include cultural controls, biological controls and herbicide controls. In accordance with good agricultural practices and the sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) philosophies applied by the South African forestry industry, cultural and biological methods should first be considered. If these methods found to be non-viable, then herbicide control can be implemented as a last resort. Selection of appropriate methods of control shall be based on the following criteria:
- Species to be controlled
- Size of target plants
- Density of stand
- Accessibility of terrain
- Environmental safety
- Presence of desirable vegetation
- Presence of obstructive vegetation. (conservation areas)
- Cost of application
Some considerations when selecting the type of herbicide control measures include:
- Ensure it is on the TIPWG approved pesticide list. These are SA government registered and approved (sometimes with conditions for use) by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®). Refer to TIPWG APL.
- Correct handling and use. Refer to SOP: Handling and Application.
- Correct storage and transport. Refer to SOP: Storage and Transport.
- When using selective herbicides, this often requires planning and budgeting for potential and additional operations.
In forestry, there are two primary weed control application methods: knapsack sprayer (refer to SOP knapsack) and tractor with spray cart (refer to SOP mechanical sprayer). Each has benefits and limitations. It is important to know these before selecting the method.
There are numerous abiotic and biotic factors that will place restrictions on when, how and what you use to control weeds. These include:
Weather conditions – temperature, rain and wind are the big three weather factors when scheduling herbicide applications. These can, to an extent, be managed – doing early and late sprays during hot seasons to avoid spraying during high heat, or using long-term weather forecasts. However, weather can change, so scheduling (and schedulers) should be adaptable.
Compartment size – size, terrain and accessibility are all going to dictate the controls available.
Areas along the boundary of the farm and/or on the outskirts of the compartment are where any pesticide application has the greatest potential for impacting neighbouring land-uses. This needs to be considered when scheduling and applying weed control measures.
Compartment location, in particular if it is adjacent to:
- Conservation areas
- Water bodies
- Neighbouring communities
- Neighbouring agriculture
Time to harvest – each herbicide has a withholding period clearly marked on the label – ensure these are followed when scheduling.
Certification restrictions – ensure only TIPWG APL herbicides are used, and conform to any condition/pre-requisites stated is essential.
Tracer-belt preparation – refer to company policies and procedures.
Fire break preparation – this will depend on the fire season (summer time in the Cape, winter for all other areas) Refer to the National Veld and Forest Fire Act No.101 of 1998
Conservation area ecosystem restrictions – for example, the removal of weeds from waterbodies will carry specific stringent restrictions Refer to FSA Environmental Guidelines.
- Grassland
- Fynbos
- Indigenous forests and woodlands
- Wetlands and riverine areas
Special management zones (SMZs) – refer to individual company policies.
Other areas – where weeds could become established and act as a source population for contamination.
- Nurseries
- Staff accommodation
- Offices
- Workshops
- Road verges
- Quarries
Hazard ratings
See the following SDS Sections:
SECTION THREE: Composition and information on ingredients
SECTION SIX: Accidental release measures
SECTION EIGHT: Exposure controls and personal protection
Local legislation driven by international conventions, governs how storeroom and field spills are dealt with.
These local legislations include:
- Disaster Management Act (No. 57 of 2002)
- Fertiliser, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies & Stock Remedies Act (No. 36 of 1947)
- Occupational Health & Safety Act (No. 85 of 1993)
- National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998)
- NEM: Biodiversity Act (No. 10 of 2004)
- NEM: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008)
- Water Act (No. 3 of 1998)
An incident that has the ability to pollute, based on the concentration, sensitivity of the environment, and hazard value of the pollutant concerned:
- Any natural resource such as soil, water and air;
- Cannot be stopped from spreading within an hour;
- Causes death or disease;
- Damage to property and/or infrastructure;
- Causes significant disruption to the life of a community.
Spills need to be recorded in the spill register for internal reconciling purposes, as per company protocol.
If a spill is ABOVE the ‘Disaster Spill’ threshold it also needs to be reported to the relevant Government Department, authority and/or affected people.
Depending on the nature of the spill these include:
- DEA – Department of Environmental Affairs
- DAFF – Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- DOL – Department of Labour
- SAPS – South African Police Services
- Fire Department
- Relevant catchment area or municipality
- Affected people
The following minimum equipment needs to be available to deal with spills in storage and mixing areas:A suitable container with lid such as a Wheelie-bin filled with absorbent material (this can include absorbent pillows and sausages);
- Adequate quantity of bio-remediation agent;
- Squeegee & poly fibre broom;
- Flat scoop such as a dustpan with stiff poly fibre brush;
- Heavy duty plastic bin liners;
- Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) according to the label / MSDS including chemical resistant gum boots and PVC gloves;
- Demarcation tape.
Clean-up Procedures – on solid surface:
- Contain the spill by use of covering with absorbent material (or sausages);
- Work in and gather with the squeegee;
- Scoop into bin liners with dustpan;
- Gather fine sweepings with broom and scoop into bin liner;
- Tie bin liner closed and placed in waste bin;
- Wash floor with standard detergent.
Clean-up Procedures – on solid surface:
- Use bio-remediation agent as per instructions;
- Generally this will entail spreading the agent over the spill, working it into the soil, then left to remediate naturally. Some products require the addition of water.
Disposal of spillage residue material:
- An option is to deliver the filled bin liners to a Hazardous Waste collection point if available;
- Alternatively, a bunded area on an impervious surface may be used for bioremediation. The spillage residue material is spread in the bunded area and treated with a bioremediation agent according to the product instructions;
- Once remediated, the material can be safely disposed of.
PROS
1) TIME – allows you to cover a far greater area in a set time frame.
2) ERGONOMICS – reduce the strain being placed on the workers, as they do not need to physically carry the knapsack with the pesticide being applied.
3) EFFICIENCY – a more uniform result improving the efficacy of the pesticide.
CONS
1) SLOPE – incline/decline limitations of both tractors and spray carts.
2) TERRAIN CONDITIONS
a) Avoid weed/coppice re-growth height over 1.5m – hinders access, negatively affects pesticide effectiveness, can potentially lead to serious pesticide damage to planted trees.
b) Stumps – hinder access.
c) Rocky outcrops – damage machinery.
d) Steep road banks – hinder access.
1) PRE-PLANTING – Herbicide – broadcast spray, controlling all undesirable vegetation.
2) POST-PLANTING – Herbicide – selective systemic – lances attached to tractor boom:
- a) Cloning operations – broadcast spray – targeting all weeds.
- b)Chemical hoe – targeting identified weed species.
SPRAY PLAN
A pre-determined route needs to be designed for the compartments being sprayed. This should take into account:
1) Slope: DO NOT WORK ALONG THE CONTOUR.
2) Direction of spray.
3) Areas to be avoided (i.e. water bodies, neighbouring crops and homesteads, conservation areas), or could be negatively affected by spray drift, as well as buffer zones.
TIPWG APPROVED LIST PESTICIDE
Ensure the pesticide about to be used is on the list and thus complies with all South African legislation and certification requirements.
LABEL INSTRUCTIONS
Need to be understood and followed at all times. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) need to be available.
1) Wind speed – can cause chemical drift.
2) Ensure the application method is appropriate for the weather conditions:
- a) Open nozzle spraying – no wind.
- b) Coning or enclosed booms – slight wind.
- c) Dribble bar – windier conditions.
3) Rain – Know the rain-fastness of the pesticide being used.
4) If the wind speed changes significantly during spraying, spray operations need to be adjusted accordingly.
WATER
Strategically place a bulk water unit for refilling close to the spray site, so to avoid unnecessary delays.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
1) First aider and first aid kit on site.
2) Report sickness.
3) Emergency clean up kit – adhere to the label specifications, if not stated then ensure the following minimum:
- a) Shovel
- b) Heavy duty plastic bag
- c) Sand
- d) Broom
4) Extra PPE available in a demarcated area.
WELL-BEING
Access to clean drinking water. No eating, drinking, toilet breaks or smoking while operating. Ensure hands and face are washed prior to eating, drinking, smoking and toilet breaks.
1) All machinery needs to be regularly maintained as per manufacturer specifications.
2) Daily check-lists should be completed by appointed operator and signed off by respective manager/forester.
3) All machinery should be inspected prior to spraying, this should include tightening pipes, fittings and nozzles. Additional care needs to be taken to look for leaks.
4) Tanks should be flushed if they are not used for extended periods.
5) Tractors should be fully refuelled prior to spraying.
Make sure the nozzle selected delivers the appropriate cover and water volume, refer to label. Ensure the same nozzle type is used across the entire boom.
1) Chemical hoeing – raindrop type nozzles as they have heavy, coarse droplet sizes which reduces spray drift.
2) Coning – flat fan type nozzles as they create good coverage and overlapping.
3) Coppice regrowth – narrow angle full cone nozzle as this supplies good penetration and coverage.
You first need to work out the TOTAL VOLUME sprayed during the calibration. This is done by taking the av-erage collected volume of water from a single nozzle and multiplying it by the number of nozzles being used.
You also need to work out the TOTAL AREA sprayed this is simply the calibration distance used multiplied by the spray width measured.
ALL PERSONS INVOLVED WITH MIXING MUST WEAR THE CORRECT PPE – refer to label prior to filling. Ensure all the filters/sieves inserted at the nozzle ends are present and clean.
1) Check spray nozzles are firmly attached.
2) Use a flat hose to fill the tank, ensuring the water used is clean and a water filter is in place.
3) Pour in the pre-measured volume of pesticide, as water is being added to the tank. This ensures proper mixing.
4) Ensure any surplus pesticides and empty containers are disposed off accordingly – Refer to SOP Disposal.
The set up procedure for the mechanical spraying is largely determined by whether the spraying operation is a pre or post-plant operation:
Spraying rig enters the compartment, folds out the booms, engages the pump, selects the correct tractor gear (determined in calibration) and commences spraying.
Spraying rig enters the compartment, folds out the booms, fits the lances to the boom at the quick coupling points, lifts the boom, engages the pump, selects the correct tractor gear (determined in calibration) and com-mences spraying.
The mechanical sprayer must maintain the same speed as was used in the calibration exercise to ensure the correct volume of pesticide is applied. The spray team must follow a clear, pre-determined, spraying plan that ensures no area is sprayed twice or missed.
1) Need to be wearing correct PPE according to the pesticide label, refer to SOP PPE.
2) NO person allowed within 20m of operational spray unit unless wearing suitable PPE.
3) Extreme care must be taken not to spray seedlings during post-planting herbicide spraying.
4) Sprayers must be evenly matched in terms of physical ability and walking speed.
5) Sprayers must swop positions periodically during the day to relieve the static nature of holding the pipe for long periods.
6) Be alert to objects and uneven terrain that could hinder spraying operations.
7) Take extra care when working behind booms – uneven terrain can cause them to swing suddenly.
8) Detach the lance at the quick coupling points when turning or travelling.
NOTE: If conditions change (slope, terrain) or machinery changes (tractor, spray cart) the calibration needs to be repeated to ensure accuracy.
1) PPE to be washed separately.
2) Wash gloved hands before removing gloves and then wash hands and face before eating, drinking, smoking or going to the toilet.
3) Wash body from the top down.
1) Area to be sprayed
On the label it will have the pesticide rate per hectare. Often, we are applying pesticide to areas that are not clearly defined in hectares, for example fire break strips or irregular shaped compartments. So it is important to work out the hectares to be sprayed.
2) Total amount of the product required
The pesticide application rate can be found on the label.
3) Number of spray tanks required
To work out the spray output you need to CALIBRATE your equipment – refer to SOP Knapsack and SOP Mechanical sprayer
4) Amount of pesticide required per tank
Fill tanker with ¼ to ¾ water – always adding the pesticide to water and not the other way around.
Keep the water agitated.
Each product must be fully dispersed/solubilised before the next is added.
Mix outside or in a well-ventilated area.
If working outside ensure you back is to the wind to prevent fumes and dust being blown towards you.
Pesticide containers should always be placed on a secure, stable surface.
Mix and load pesticide on a concrete slab if possible.
Always use a catch basin when mixing to prevent inadvertent spills.
Measure carefully using clearly labelled ‘PESTICIDE’ measures that are washed separately.
Never open pesticide containers higher than chest level or lift open containers over chest height.
Mix at waist level, never at eye-level.
Never stir with hands/arms, always use a clearly labelled ‘PESTICIDE’ stir-stick.
After handling pesticides ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS
- Wash your gloves before removing them.
- Remove your clothes, place in a bag ready to be washed separately.
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Wash your face (and exposed body parts).
Pros
- Uses a lower volume of water per application – this helps conserve water and saves on water transport costs.
- Misting effect improves the coverage for contact products on target pests.
- Good choice for fungicide and insecticide applications, as well as for pest control in a nursery setting.
Cons
- Can result in over-application of products if the operator is not trained.
- Wind greatly affects applications, due to the fine droplets.
- Not ideal for herbicide applications.
1) Sickness – report to supervisor if you are feeling ill. If treatment is sought, ensure the pesticide label is taken along to the medical facility.
2) Emergency clean up kit – ensure there is one on-site in case of spills. This should comprise the following:
- Strong plastic bag with label
- Designated spills kit
- Broom
- Small shovel/spade
- Rubber gloves
3) Control checks – done before every spray.
- All engine components are secure and not damaged
- The on/off switch works
- The throttle control works
- The mist blower nozzle, hoses and connections have no leaks or any other defects
- Gaskets on the tank lid are not leaking
- The harness is in good working order
- The valve on the mist blower does not leak
- The lids on the chemical tank and fuel tank are secured and do not leak
- The anti-vibrations rubbers are not damaged
4) Setting the harness – adjust the harness straps so that the back-plate fits snugly and securely against your back, by adjusting the height and angle of the straps.
5) Checking coverage – use water sensitive paper (WSP) to ensure the correct coverage when applying pesticides with a mist blower.
- Fill mist blower with water.
- Create a diagram of the tree that will be sprayed.
- Clearly mark where WSP will be placed on the tree, ensuring:
- The distribution of the WSP covers areas where pest damage is found and/or in areas where coverage will be difficult to achieve.
- Enough WSP is used to get an accurate depiction of the spray coverage.
- Label WSP in accordance to their position on the tree diagram, then attach using staples or bulldog clips on the corresponding areas of the tree ensuring:
- The sensitive side of the WSP is facing outwards
- There is no dew on the tree, which could activate the WSP and skew the results.
- Start the operation, making sure the operator operates in their normal fashion.
- Collect WSP and check the spray pattern against the diagram below.
- If the WSP is representative of 85 drops per cm2, pesticide application is correct. If not, repeat the steps adjusting how the operator applies the mix.
PLEASE NOTE: WSP is not fool proof and the denseness of the trees foliage can skew the results.
6) Well-being
- Have an adequate supply of drinking water to avoid dehydration.
- Do not eat, smoke, drink or take toilet breaks while handling, working with or applying pesticides.
1) Production rate – dependent on walking speed, nozzle height and type of terrain.
2) Water volume & mixing – make sure the equipment is filled with the right amount of water for the concentration of pesticide. The prescribed dilution rates will be stated on the label in litres, as litres per hectare (l/ha). A percentage mixture is often recommended too. Pesticides need to be mixed in accordance with label specifications and percentage application rate.
3) PPE (always refer to the label) – minimum PPE listed below is required at ALL times when spraying. Check the pesticide label to see whether additional PPE is required.
- Safety helmet – if working under a tree canopy
- Eye protection
- Hearing protection
- Gloves/mitts
- Leg protection
- Safety boots
- Mask/respirator – in accordance with the pesticide’s label
4) Carrying or moving with the mist blower – the mist blower should be turned off when being carried for a distance. It should always be worn as a backpack and not over one shoulder. Harness should be correctly fitted.
5) Starting the mist blower
- Place the unit securely on the ground and make sure that bystanders are well clear of the mist blower outlet.
- Make sure you have a firm footing.
- Hold the unit with your left hand on the housing and put one foot against the base plate to prevent it from slipping.
- Pull the starter grip slowly with your right hand until you feel it engage and then give it a strong brisk pull. Do not pull out the starter rope to full length – it may break.
- Do not let the start-grip snap back. Guide it slowly back into the housing so that the starter rope can rewind properly.
If the engine is cold:
- Turn the choke knob to ‘N’ and continue cranking until the engine runs.
If the engine is warm:
- Continue cranking until the engine runs.
- As soon as the engine is running, return engine to idle speed. Operate the throttle trigger; the choke knob will automatically move to the run position.
6) Operating the mist blower
- Mist blowers are designed for single-handed operations. Fingers should wrap tightly around the handle, keeping control of the handle by cradling it between thumb and forefinger.
- Ensure sound footing and stable posture at all times.
- Workers should move forward at a STEADY pace, ensuring the mist blower is kept at an even spray height, trying to keep to the same distribution pattern to ensure even pesticide coverage.
- Operators need to spray upwind of the area just treated such that the wind blows drift away from the operator. DO NOT allow spray drift to be a risk to downwind bystanders, crops, and/or animals.
7) Refuelling – this should be done in an area that has been cleared of debris to prevent accidental fire/spillage. A fire extinguisher must be present when refuelling.
8) Spray plan – this is required to ensure all areas are covered effectively, efficiently and only once. It will also reduce the risk of workers walking through sprayed areas. No entry signs should be erected to inform others of recently sprayed areas; also indicate the time when it is safe to re-enter.
- Plan refuelling so as to avoid walking long distances.
- Ensure sufficient pre-mixed fuel is available for the days production.
9) Spray environment
- Ensure there are no people or animals in the target area.
- Prevent pollution of any water supply, river, dams, ponds etc..
10) Do not spray when
- Target vegetation is wet or it is about to rain.
- In high wind speeds.
- If the ambient temperatures exceed the range stated on the label or by the spray equipment manufacturer.
1) Disposal of surplus containers – refer to SOP Disposal
2) Rinsing of mist blower tank – refer to SOP Disposal. When cleaning the filters, ALWAYS use clean water and clean the mist blower after every use. Mist blowers should NEVER be stored with pesticides still inside, as parts will become corroded and the spray will not operate properly.
3) PPE cleaning – the washing of shirts and trousers should be done at a designated laundry facility and separately from other clothing. Boots, gloves and other PPE equipment should be washed inside and out and be fully air-dried.
4) Personal hygiene – wash hands and face properly before any food or drink is consumed. Bodies should be washed from the top down to ensure contamination doesn’t occur during the washing process.
5) Equipment maintenance – as described by the manufacturer. If servicing is required, ensure that this is done within the allotted time frame.
6) Storage – equipment needs to be stored safely, away from children and animals. It should not be stored in direct sunlight.