SAFETY WHEN SPRAYING

The Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Holdings, re-issued in 1998, and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 apply to the use of all types of farm chemicals including pesticides, herbicides, fungicides growth regulators and sterilants. The application of pesticides with hand-held equip­ment, tractor sprayers and aircraft are included in the list of applicators covered by these regulations.

All people who handle or apply agricultural and horticultural pesticides in the UK must have proof of instruction in their use. The code of practice states that any person who was born after 31 December 1964 or who is providing a commercial pesticide application service must hold a Certificate of Competence.

The information given above is very basic and is only an indication of the contents of the various regulations concerning the application of pesticides. The official code of safe practice is the best source of information which you should study to find out exactly how the provisions affect you when handling or using pesticides. Some important points to remember include:

• Follow the instructions on the package. Use protective clothing as directed and refer to employer's risk assessment requirements.

• Check the label for an}- special washing requirements to be followed after using the product.

• Dispose of empty containers safely. Wash out cans to remove any undiluted chemical.

• Keep all pesticides in a locked store. Return any unused material to the store.

• Do not smoke, eat or drink while spraying. Always wash before doing any of these.

• Never blow at a blocked nozzle with the mouth. Keep spare clean nozzles with you. (Do not try to clear a blocked nozzle with a pin either - this will spoil it.)

• Never transfer chemicals into other con­tainers.

• Clean all protective clothing after use.

• Remember that pesticides can enter tractor cabs. A respirator is needed, even in modern safety cabs, for some of the more dangerous pesticides except when specialist filters are used in the cab ventilation svstem.

Plate 13.13 The land-wheel driven fluted roller metering mechanism in the granular applicator units on this 12-row root drill are set up to supply granules to three seeder units.

Granular Applicators. Crop protection chemicals can also be applied in a solid, granular form. Granular applicators will apply these granules to growing crops or in bands when planting potatoes and other seeds.

The granules are carried in small hoppers attached to a toolbar. A mechanical or pneu­matic feed mechanism delivers granules to nozzles spaced across a toolbar or fixed to coulter units. The flow of granules from the hopper can be varied to give a range of applica­tion rates.

Weed wipers. Tall weeds including docks and thistles can be killed on pastures, in sugar beet and other crops with a weed wiper. This is a low cost operation compared with overall spraying. There are two types of weed wiper: one has a rope to carry the chemical and the other has a wide chemical carrying roller. Both machines apply a contact herbicide to foliage tall enough to be touched by the chemical impregnated wick or roll.

Rope weed wipers have an endless wick run­ning on pulleys attached to a front- or rear-mounted frame. Herbicide on the wick is deposited on any weed it touches. Roller weed wipers work in a similar way.

These machines are made in various widths and the height of the wick or roller can be adjusted. The wider models of weed wiper are folded for transport.

Plate 13.14 A roller containing herbicide coats the smooth roller on this weed wiping machine with chemical which is transferred to any weeds which have grown above arable crops or to tall weeds on grassland.

Plate 13.15 This rear-mounted band sprayer can be supplied with chemical either from a front-mounted tank or from one on the toolbar.

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