(a) Determination of Competency. Competence in the use and handling of pesticides shall be determined on the basis of written examination and as appropriate, performance testing, based upon standards set forth below. Such examinations and testing shall include the general standards applicable to all categories: the additional standards specifically identified for each category-subcategory (if any) in which a commercial applicator is to be classified; and, as appropriate, any special standards established pursuant to Section 11 of these regulations.
(b) General standards of competency for all categories of certified commercial applicators. - (i) All commercial applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the principles and practices of pest control and safe use of pesticides. Testing shall be based on examples of problems and situations; appropriate to the particular category or subcategory of the applicators' certification and the following areas of competency:
- (A) Label and Labeling Comprehension.
- (I) The general format and terminology of pesticide labels and labeling, including all written, printed or graphic matter associated with the product;
- (II) The understanding of instructions, warnings, terms, symbols, and other information commonly appearing on pesticide labels;
- (III) Classification of the product, general or restricted use.
- (IV) Necessity for use consistent with the label.
- (B) Safety.
- (I) Pesticide toxicity and hazard to man, including all common exposure routes (dermal, inhalation and ingestion).
- (II) Common types and causes of pesticide accidents;
- (III) Precautions necessary to gua rd against injury to applicators and other individuals in or near treated areas;
- (IV) Need for and use of protective clothing and equipment;
- (V) Symptoms of pesticide poisoning;
- (VI) First aid and other procedures to be followed in case of a pesticide accident; and
- (VII) Proper identification, storage, transport, handling, mixing and disposal methods for pesticides, disposal of pesticide containers, including precaution to be taken to prevent children from having access to pesticides and pesticide containers.
- (C) Environment. The potential environmental consequence of the use and misuse of pesticides as may be influenced by:
- (I) Weather and other climatic conditions;
- (II) Types of terrain, soil and other substrate;
- (III) Groundwater aquifer vulnerability;
- (IV) Presence of fish, wildlife and non-target organisms;
- (V) Presence of endangered species; and
- (D) Pests.
- (I) Common features of pest organisms and characteristics of damage needed for pest recognition;
- (II) Recognition of relevant pests; and
- (III) Pest development and biology as it may be relevant to problem identification and control.
- (E) Pesticides.
- (II) Types of formulations;
- (III) Compatibility, synergism, persistence and animal and pla nt toxicity to the formulations;
- (IV) Hazards and residues associated with use;
- (V) Factors which influence effectiveness or lead to such problems as resistance to pesticides; and
- (VI) Dilution procedures.
- (F) Equipment.
- (I) Types of application equipment and advantages and limitations of each type; and
- (II) Uses, maintenance and calibration.
- (G) Application Techniques.
- (I) Methods of procedure used to apply various formulations of pesticides, solutions and gases, together with a knowledge of which technique of application to use in a given situation;
- (II) Relationship of discharge and placement of pesticides to proper use, unnecessary use, and misuse; and
- (III) Prevention of drift and pesticide loss into the environment.
- (H) Laws and Regulations.
- (I) Applicable state and federal laws and regulations; and
- (II) Worker Protection Standards as they apply to farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses.
(c) Specific standards of competency for each category and/or subcategory. Commercial applicators when certifying in a specific category, shall be particularly qualified in that category as elaborated below: - (i) Cat. 901 Agricultural Pest Control.
- (A) Weed Control. Applicators must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the crops grown and the specific weeds of those crops on which they may be using pesticides. Practical knowledge is required concerning soil and water problems, pre-harvest intervals, restricted entry intervals, phytotoxicity, and potential for environmental contamination, non-target injury and community problems resulting from the use of pesticides in agricultural areas.
- (B) Insect Control. Applicators must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the crops grown and the specific insects of those crops on which they may be using pesticides. Practical knowledge is required concerning soil and water problems, pre-harvest intervals, restricted entry intervals, phytotoxicity, and potential for environmental contamination, non-target injury and community problems resulting from the use of pesticides in agricultural areas.
- (C) Disease Control. Applicators must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the crops grown and the specific diseases of those crops on which they may be using pesticides. Practical knowledge is required concerning soil and water problems, pre-harvest intervals, restricted entry intervals, phytotoxicity and potential for environmental contamination, non-target injury and community problems resulting from the use of pesticides in agricultural areas.
- (D) Animal. Applicators applying pesticides directly to animals must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of such animals and their associated pests. A practical knowledge is also required concerning specific pesticide toxicity and potential residue, since host animals will frequently be used for food. Further, the applicator must know the relative hazards associated with such factors as formulation, application techniques, ages of animals, stress and extent of treatment.
- (E) Rodent Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of detrimental rodents found in agricultural situations, the potential impact on the environment of pesticides used in rodent control programs, and knowledge of factors influencing introduction, spread and population dynamics of relevant pests. In addition, use requires particular ability that relates to integrated knowledge of the locale, target species and damage patterns caused by the target species.
- (F) Chemigation. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of equipment associated with chemigation, including calibration techniques and use of anti-back flow/check valves to prevent contamination of water supplies. They shall demonstrate knowledge of labeling requirements of products registered for chemigation, including posting requirements. Further, they shall demonstrate knowledge of appropriate use of personal protective equipment associated with this type of application.
- (ii) Cat. 902 Forest Pest Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the types of forest, forest nurseries and seed production in Wyoming and the pests involved. They should possess practical knowledge of the cyclic occurrence of certain pests and specific population dynamics as a basis for programming pesticide applications. A practical knowledge is required of the relative biotic agents and their vulnerability to the pesticides to be applied. The applicator must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of control methods which will minimize the possibility of secondary problems such as unintended effects of wildlife. Proper use of specialized equipment must be demonstrated, especially as it may relate to meteorological factors and adjacent land use.
- (iii) Cat. 903 Ornamental and Turf Pest Control.
- (A) Weed Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of pesticide problems associated with weed control in the production and maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs, plantings and turf, including cognizance of potential phytotoxicity due to a wide variety of plant material, drift and persistence beyond the intended period of pest control. Because of the frequent proximity of human habitations to application activities, applicators in this subcategory must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of application methods which will minimize or prevent hazards to humans, pets and other domestic animals.
- (B) Insect Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of problems associated with insect control in the production and maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs, plantings and turf, including cognizance of potential phytotoxicity due to a wide variety of plant material, drift and persistence beyond the extended period of pest control. Because of the frequent proximity of human habitations to application activities, applicators in this subcategory must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of application methods which will minimize or prevent hazards to humans, pets and other domestic animals.
- (C) Disease Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of pesticide problems associated with disease control in the production and maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs, plantings and turf, including cognizance of potential phytotoxicity due to a wide variety of plant material, drift, and persistence beyond the intended period of pest control. Because of the frequent proximity of human habitation to application activities, applicators in this subcategory must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of application methods which will minimize or prevent hazards to humans, pets and other domestic animals.
- (E) Rodent Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of detrimental rodents found in ornamental and turf situations, the potential impact of the environment on pesticides used in rodent control programs, and knowledge of factors influencing introduction, spread and population dynamics of relevant pests. In addition, use requires particular ability that relates to integrated knowledge of the locale, target species and damage patterns caused by the target species.
- (iv) Cat. 904 Seed Treatment. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of types of seeds that require chemical protection against pests and factors such as seed coloration, carriers, and surface active agents which influence pesticide binding and may effect germination. They must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of hazards associated with handling, sorting and mixing, and misuse of treated seed such as introduction of treated seed into food and feed channels, as well as proper disposal of unused treated seed.
- (v) Cat. 905 Aquatic Pest Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the secondary effects which can be avoided by proper application rates, correct formulations and correct application of pesticides used in this category. They shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of various water use situations and the potential of downstream effects. Further, they must have a practical knowledge concerning pesticide effects on plants, fish, birds, beneficial insects, and other organisms which may or may not be present in aquatic environments. These applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the principles of limited area application.
- (vi) Cat. 906 Right-of-Way Pest Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of a wide variety of environments since rights-of-way can traverse many different terrains, including waterways. They shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of problems of runoff, drift and excess foliage destruction and ability to recognize target organisms. They shall also demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the nature of herbicides and the need for containment of these pesticides within the right-of-way area, and the impact of their application activities on the adjacent areas and communities.
- (vii) Cat. 907 Industrial, Institutional, Structural and Health Related Pest Control. Applicators must demonstrate, by examination, a practical knowledge of a wide variety of pests including their life cycles, types of formulations appropriate for their control and methods of application that avoid contamination of food, damage and contamination of habitation, and exposure of people and pets. Since human exposure is a potential problem, applicators must demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the specific factors which may lead to a hazardous condition, including continuous exposure in the various situations encountered in this category. Because health related pest control may involve outdoor applications, applicators must also demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of environmental conditions, particularly related to this activity.
- (G) Fumigation. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of conditions requiring the application of fumigants, and selection of the most appropriate fumigation methods to use. They shall demonstrate knowledge of equipment used in fumigation, such as application, monitoring, testing, calculating, and personal protective devices. Applicators shall demonstrate ability to release, distribute and maintain the correct fumigant concentrations for the product/structure being fumigated, under differing conditions. They shall also have knowledge of the hazards involved with the use of fumigants, including requirements for properly ventilating enclosed spaces after application.
- (H) Bird Control. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of protected and unprotected pest birds and conditions conducive to bird problems. They shall demonstrate knowledge of all applicable laws and regulations protecting birds and the actions required in order to control protected pest species. Applicators shall demonstrate knowledge of bird control methods and the hazards involved with pesticide usage, especially secondary poisoning of non-target organisms.
- (viii) Cat. 908 Public Health Pest Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of vector-disease transmission as it relates to and influences application programs. A wide variety of pests are involved, and it is essential they be known and recognized, and appropriate life cycles and habitats be understood as a basis for control strategy. These applicators shall have practical knowledge of a great variety of environments ranging from streams to those conditions found in buildings. They should also have a practical knowledge of the importance and employment of such non-chemical control methods as sanitation, waste disposal and drainage. This category does not include control of vertebrate pests which are disease vectors. (Vertebrate disease vectors are included in paragraph (c)(ix)(H) of this section)
- (ix) Cat. 909 Regulatory Pest Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of regulated weeds, insects and diseases, and the potential impact to the environment of pesticides used in control programs. They shall demonstrate, by examination, knowledge of factors influencing introduction, spread and population dynamics on relevant pests.
- (E) Rodent Control. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of detrimental rodents, the potential impact on the environment of pesticides used in rodent control programs and knowledge of factors influencing the introduction, spread and population dynamics of relevant pests. In addition, applicators shall demonstrate integrated knowledge of the locale, target species and damage patterns caused by the target species.
- (H) Bird Control. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge as indicated under paragraph (c)(vii)(G) of this Section.
- (I) Vertebrate Pest Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of regulated vertebrate pests (excluding birds) and, the potential impact on the environment of pesticides used in control programs. They shall demonstrate, by examination, knowledge of factors influencing introduction, spread and population dynamics of relevant pests. In addition, use requires particular ability that relates to integrated knowledge of the locale, target species and damage patterns caused by the target species.
- (J) M-44. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge on the use of the M-44 device to control coyotes, including the history of the M-44 device, toxic effects of sodium cyanide, first aid for cyanide poisoning, M-44 parts and their use, preparation of the M-44 for use, setting the M-44, the use of baits and attractants, selecting M-44 use sites, EPA use restrictions, and all reporting and record keeping requirements pertaining to the use of M-44's. Applicators shall also demonstrate knowledge of basic coyote information, characteristics of predatory species, and use of alternative methods for predator control. Certification in this subcategory shall require separate and specific training, examination and certification.
- (K) Livestock Protection Collars. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge on the use of the Livestock Protection Collar to control coyotes, including criteria for applicators, specific certification requirements for applicators, monitoring protocols and labeling and the use of the technical bulletin on the LP Collar. Applicators shall also demonstrate knowledge of procedures for evaluating predation on livestock and wildlife, and all reporting and record keeping requirements pertaining to the use of the LP Collar. Certification in this subcategory shall require separate and specific training, examination and certification.
- (x) Cat. 910 Demonstration and Research Pest Control. Applicators demonstrating the safe and effective use of pesticides to other applicators and the public will be expected to meet comprehensive standards reflecting a broad spectrum of pesticide uses. Many different pest problem situations will be encountered in the course of activities associated with demonstrations, and practical knowledge of problems, pest and population levels occurring in each demonstration situation is required. Further, they should demonstrate an understanding of pesticide - organism interactions and the importance of integrating pesticide use with other control methods. In addition, they shall meet the specific standards required for categories 901 through 909 of this section as they may be applicable to their particular activity. Persons conducting field research or method improvement work with pesticides should know the general standards under paragraph (b) of this section. In addition, they shall meet the specific standards required for categories 901 through 909 of this section, applicable to their particular activity, or alternatively, to meet the more inclusive requirements listed under "demonstration".
- (xi) Cat. 911 Specific Use Pest Control. Applicators shall demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge of the specific pest to be controlled, and the potential impact on the environment of the specific pesticide to be used. The applicator shall also demonstrate, by examination, practical knowledge concerning all pertinent factors influencing application methods, hazards to the applicator and the public, and any other factors which the Board of Certification deems of importance for the specific pesticide. The Board of Certification will develop the examination only after consulting with the manufacturer of the specific restricted-use pesticide. Because of the unusual nature of these specific pesticides, neither the Board of Certification, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, nor the University of Wyoming will be required or expected to provide training for applicators prior to the examination. Not withstanding the provisions under Section 6(k) dealing with training for re-certification, the board of certification is not required to approve training courses for re-certification, and the board of certification may require the applicator to be re-examined to maintain certification.
- (L) Wood Preservation. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of conditions for which preservative treatment of wood is used. Applicators shall demonstrate a knowledge of all laws specific to the use of wood preservatives, the health and environmental hazards associated with wood treating procedures, and the need for informing purchasers of precautions for handling, use, and disposal of treated wood products. They shall demonstrate knowledge of all applicable treating and testing equipment, structural wood destroying organisms, conditions conducive to infestation and shall demonstrate knowledge and ability to select, calibrate and use appropriate control procedures.
- (M) Non-Government M-44. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge as indicated under paragraph (c)(ix)(i) of this section.
- (N) Non-Government Livestock Protection Collar. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge as indicated under paragraph (c)(ix)(J) of this section.
- (O) Mosquito Control. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of appropriate life cycles and habitats of mosquito populations which form the basis of a control strategy. Applicators shall have practical knowledge of a great variety of environments ranging from exterior water sources to those conditions found in buildings and also have knowledge of non-chemical control methods such as sanitation, waste disposal and drainage.
- (P) Sewer Line Root Control. Applicators shall demonstrate by practical knowledge of various technical aspects of sewer line root control, with emphasis on the safe use and application of chemical products, especially those which contain metam sodium, a restricted-use pesticide.
- (xiii)
Cat. 912 Aerial application. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of aerial equipment calibration and maintenance and the avoidance of problems associated with aerial application, such as drift and non-target injury. In addition, applicators will demonstrate knowledge appropriate to the type of aerial application being performed through their additional certification in one or more of the categories listed under paragraph (c) of this section.
(d) The above standards do not apply to the following persons for purposes of these regulations: - (i) Persons conducting research in a laboratory, involving pesticides; and
- (ii) Doctors of Medicine and Doctors of Veterinary Medicine applying drugs or medication during the course of their normal practice and who do not publicly represent themselves as pesticide applicators.
010-28 Wyo. Code R. § 28-5