Arizona PMD Safety 6 Credit Bundle
This course bundle is designed for Arizona Applicators as licensed by the Pest Management Division. The course bundle contains 12 credits of training approved the the Arizona Department of Agriculture for PMD credit. Course topics focus on common landscape management issues. Please click on course details for a list of specific courses.
BUNDLE CONTENTS:
- Pest Control Practices in Residential, Industrial & Institutional Structures – 2 credits
- Review of Pesticide Use Hazards – 1 credit
- Pesticides in the Environment – 1 credit
- Pesticide Hazards and First Aid – 1 credit
- Pesticide Application Procedures – 1 credit
Pest Control Practices in Residential, Industrial & Institutional Structures
Course Description
Structures are often subject to pest infestations that can lead to costly damage to structural wood, furnishings, fabrics, and stored items. Some pests can also transmit disease-causing organisms or cause painful bites and stings. Weeds can also be problematic by detracting from the appearance of structures, posing fire or safety hazards, and providing a habitat for other pests. Nuisance pests can even cause contamination of products or legal issues in commercial settings.
To effectively manage pests, it is essential to use safe and economical methods. This Arizona Department of Agriculture-approved course covers a variety of pest control techniques and emphasizes the importance of making decisions that prioritize safety for both individuals and the environment.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Develop effective strategies for managing pest populations in and around structures.
- Implement proper techniques for pest inspection, monitoring, and trapping.
- Understand the impact of weed damage and the importance of weed control around structures.
- Select and apply appropriate pesticide formulations.
- Identify common food pests and manage them effectively.
Review of Pesticide Use Hazards
Course Description
Pesticides must be used carefully to avoid harm to humans, native species, and the environment because of their chemical toxicity. This one-credit course, approved by the Arizona Department of Agriculture, Pest Management Division, contains crucial training on the types of hazards pesticides present and how to classify them.
Pest managers must be aware of the dangers to the environment and wildlife when applying pesticides, including injury to pets, accidental human exposure, water contamination, damage to plant species and other effects on non-target organisms.
Become familiar with important information governing pesticide classification, the three categories of toxicity and designations based on function/targeted pests while preventing hazardous pesticide exposure.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Explain what toxicity of pesticides means and the different hazards of pesticide exposure for humans.
- Describe the characteristics of various pesticide formulations.
- Recognize strategies to minimize excessive pesticide exposure risk to pets, plants, and the environment.
- State the appropriate measures to take in case of pesticide accidents.
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.
Pesticide Hazards and First Aid
Instructor: Gene Merkl
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.
Pesticide Application Procedures
Course Description
Today’s pest management practices require modern equipment to apply a variety of pesticides. Pesticides may be
applied as sprays, dusts, granules, gases (vapors), fogs, baits, rubs, or dips. The vast array of application equipment must
be matched to the pesticide as well as to the size and type of the job. To make an effective, safe, and efficient application,
read the label first. In addition, you must properly select, operate, calibrate, and maintain your equipment.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify the factors (e.g., nozzles, volumes, pressures, and speeds) that affect calibration.
- Demonstrate how to determine the amount of pesticide concentrate and diluent to use.
- Explain how to choose appropriate drift reduction practices.