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Welcome to Pesticide Safety News
 
This biannual newsletter provides information to pest management technicians and pest management businesses on pesticide safety matters. It is intended that the newsletter will help technicians and proprietors keep up to date with pesticide licensing and regulation.
 
September 2021                                                                                                     Edition 7
 
In this issue 

Changes to WA training and licensing requirements

The previous Certificate III in Urban Pest Management (CPP30115) has been superseded and the updated course (CPP30119) now requires candidates to undertake pest management treatments in the workplace. This means that candidates will now need a provisional pest management licence before completing the training units and upgrading to a full licence. This will affect the following endorsement areas:

  • commercial domestic pests
  • fumigation
  • feral pigeon control
  • termite treatment for power poles
The provisional pest management licensing requirements will only apply to technicians who have not previously held a pest management licence in any State in Australia or who have not previously been endorsed to conduct these urban pest management activities.  

Changes come into effect from 29th September 2021.
Read more

Review of pesticides and veterinary medicines regulatory system

The final report on an independent review of Australia's pesticides and veterinary medicines regulatory system has been published. 
The report examined the systems, aims, structure and operation of the APVMA and made recommendations to ensure the system remains fit for purpose whilst reducing unnecessary red tape. Information about the review process is available here. 
Final report
Storing and transporting pesticides
Extra precaution must always be taken when pesticides are being stored or transported on vehicles. Transporting pesticides on public roads increases the risk to the public when pesticides spill during a road incident.  Vehicles used for storing and transporting pesticides must meet the legal requirements.
Minimum vehicle requirements include:
  1. Vehicles must display the registered name of the business and the business registration number in letters not less than 50mm in height on both sides of the vehicle.
  2. The driving compartment must be separate from all pesticides carried on the vehicle. No pesticides or contaminated equipment must be stored or transported in the drivers compartment.
  3. Pesticides must only be transported in a lockable metal storage container securely fixed to the vehicle.
  4. Always store pesticides in their original containers and ensure containers are in good condition.
  5. Keep vehicles clean and free of pesticide residue.
  6. In the event of an emergency it is good practice to keep the manifest of chemicals and register of SDS's in the driver’s side console to enable easy access in the event of an incident.
Read more
Minimising spray drift 
In recent months, the Department of Health has noticed an increase in the number of complaints concerning spray drift. Spray drift refers to all pesticide drift that moves onto non-target areas. If an aerosol is produced then spray drift is possible. The types of areas where the potential for spray drift is increased, includes when pesticide spraying occurs on or near roads, verges, nature strips and railway lines as well as areas frequented by lots of people including parks, gardens, community halls, churches and child care centres.  Members of the public can become extremely concerned when they observe spraying particularly because it is highly visible and secondly because there is a potential for exposure to the public. 
Steps to minimise impacts of spray drift:
 
LABEL: Read the label and follow instructions, which is a legal requirement. 
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Always check the weather forecast, this includes wind speed, direction, temperature and the likelihood of rain. If the weather conditions are not going to be suitable then delay the treatment until weather conditions improve.   
PRODUCT FORMULATION: Some products are designed to reduce spray drift. 
EQUIPMENT: Always use equipment in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and choose the correct equipment, including nozzle, for the  pesticide and target requirements. 
PUBLIC WELLBEING:  You must always stop spraying if a member of the public approaches the area being sprayed.
SIGNAGE AND NOTIFICATION:  Comply with signage requirements, provide anyone that is potentially affected with advance notice that spraying is to occur.    

The APVMA also has information available on Spray drift management.
APVMA Spray Drift Management
Biosecurity alert : American serpentine leafminer
In July this year, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) detected the American serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza trifolii) near Kununurra, in the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. This is the first time the leafminer has been detected in mainland Australia.
The leafminer larvae tunnel through the leaf tissue and have over 400 host species and posing a serious threat to our horticulture, nursery and agricultural plant industry. 

Send in reported sightings to:

DPIRD Pest and Disease Information Service

More information about American Serpentine Leafminer is available by visiting DPIRDS website.
DPIRD website
Rodenticides and secondary poisoning 
Extra caution should be taken with the use of rodenticides as most rodenticides are either Schedule 6 or 7 poisons. 
There is an increasing awareness in the community that rodenticides also have a greater potential to cause secondary poisoning to non-target animals, in particular, birds of prey. Some community groups have engaged with local governments requesting they review their position and the types of rodent controls used as part of their pest management programs. 

Pest management technicians endorsed for commercial domestic pests are encouraged to provide options to their clients explaining the advantages and disadvantages.  Where required the use of rodenticide should be part of an integrated approach to pest management, which includes a detailed risk assessment and at all times compliance with the label instructions.
Pesticide Safety QUIZ
Can you spare 1 minute to test your knowledge of pesticide safety?
Quiz consists of 5 multi choice questions. See how you go!
Take the quiz
Check your endorsements
Remember to check the details and the conditions on your registration certificate and your licence. Pesticide licensing were recently made aware of a technician who believed he had an endorsement for 'Termites and timber pests'. Pesticide Licensing Officer confirmed the technician never had this endorsement which had unwittingly placed the technician in breach of the Regulations. If you require changes to your card, please submit the request for change on the  amendment form with supporting information.  
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