Arizona Private Applicator (PUP) 3 Credit Bundle - General Safety
This course bundle is designed for the Arizona Certified Applicator as certified by the Agricultural Division. The course bundle contains 3 credits of training approved the the Arizona Department of Agriculture for agricultural credit. Course topics focus on general pesticide safety. Please click on course details for a list of specific courses.
BUNDLE CONTENTS:
- Respiratory Protection – 1 credit
- Pesticide Hazards and First Aid – 1 credit
- Pesticides in the Environment – 1 credit
Respiratory Protection
Course Description
Respirators protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. These hazards may cause cancer, lung impairment, diseases, or death. Some pesticide labels require the use of a respirator as part of the personal protective equipment. This course outlines the types of respirators available, proper fit, and inspection/maintenance requirements.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Discuss the different types of respirators and when to use each type
- Describe the steps of a successful fit test
- Outline the necessary care and maintenance required for each type of respirator
Pesticide Hazards and First Aid
Course Description
Pesticides are designed to be toxic to living organisms so they can control pests (e.g., plants, insects, rodents,
fungi, and bacteria). At the same time, pesticides must be used with special care to avoid harming nontarget organisms, including pesticide applicators, handlers, and anyone else exposed to the product. Pesticides can have both short-term
and long-term effects on humans. As a result, pesticide users need to be concerned with the hazards associated
with exposure to the chemical and not exclusively with the toxicity of the pesticide.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify common exposure routes for various pesticides and application methods.
- Discuss the appropriate first aid response to oral, ocular, dermal, and inhalation exposures to pesticides.
- Explain the hazard level classification system for pesticides, including the corresponding signal words.
Pesticides in the Environment
Course Description
Applicators and the public share concerns about how pesticides may harm the environment. Initially, hazards to humans were the primary reason the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to classify a pesticide as a restricted-use product. Now, more and more pesticide labels list environmental effects (such as contamination of groundwater or toxicity to birds or aquatic organisms) as reasons for restriction. Anyone who uses a pesticide—indoors or outdoors, in a city or on a farm—must consider how that pesticide affects the environment.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Describe how pesticide applications can affect the environment.
- Explain how to prevent pesticide drift, runoff, and movement to nontarget areas.
- Discuss how to prevent pesticide residue accumulation associated with mixing, loading, and equipment washing.