Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Recommended prerequisite: MTH 60. Laws regulating the registration, use, disposal, transportation and licensing of applicators are presented. Safety practices include handling, mixing, use of application equipment, application techniques, and personal protective equipment. Herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are the major categories of pesticides studied. This course is required for a Landscape Services Technician one year Certificate, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Landscape Technology, second year Certificates of Plant Propagation, Landscape Construction and Landscape Management.
 

• Be prepared to obtain certification for licensing as a private, public or commercial pesticide applicator. 
• Apply pesticides in a legal, safe, correct and environmentally conscious manner.
   

This is a graded course. The basis for grades is a combination of attendance,
mid term and final exams.
 

1.0 LAWS
1.1.0 Federal laws
1.1.1 Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide
Act.(FIFRA)
1.1.2 Definition of Restricted use and General use
Pesticides.
1.1.3 Environmental Protection Agency functions.(EPA)
1.1.4 United Sates Department of Agriculture
Regulations.(USDA)
1.1.5 Food and Drug Administration Regulations.(FDA)
1.1.6 Endangered Species Act
1.1.7 Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)
1.1.8 Federal Department of Transportation (DOT)
1.2.0 Oregon State Laws
1.2.1 Functions of the Oregon Department of
Agriculture.
a. Licensing requirements and types
b. Exclusions to licensing
c. State restricted use pesticides
d. Certification exams
e. Recertification requirements
f. Reciprocal licensing
g. Record keeping
h. Inspections and enforcement
I. Penalties for non-compliance
j. Fees
k. Special Local Need designation
l. Emergency exemptions
1.2.2 Department of Environmental Quality responsibilities
1.2.3 Oregon Department of Transportation requirements
1.2.4 Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration
a. Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
b. Employers MSDS responsibilities
1.2.5 Oregon Emergency Response Center
1.2.6 Pesticide Analytical Response Center
1.2.7 Label information requirements
1.2.8 Prohibited Acts and penalties
1.2.9 Insurance requirements
2.0 Safety
2.1.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
a. Respirators
b. Clothing
c. Eye protection
2.1.1 Care and maintenance of PPE
2.1.2 Label and OSHA required PPE
2.1.3 Minimum PPE when applying pesticides
2.1.4 Minimum PPE when mixing or handling pesticides
2.1.5 Avoiding pesticide drift
2.1.6 Avoiding contamination of environment
2.1.7 Avoiding damage to non-target organisms
2.1.8 Re-entry and posting of treated areas
3.0 Toxicity of pesticides
3.1.0 LD50 values (Lethal Dose 50%)
a. Acute oral LD50
b. Acute dermal LD50
c. Acute LC50 (Lethal Concentration)
3.1.1 Pesticide toxicity categories
a. Highly toxic
b. Moderately toxic
c. Slightly toxic
3.1.2 Signal words related to toxicity categories
a. Danger Poison
b. Warning
c. Caution
3.1.3 Chronic exposure
3.1.4 Carcinogens
4.0 First aid treatments
4.1.0 Skin treatment
4.1.1 Oral exposure
4.1.2 Inhaling treatment
4.1.3 Poison control center
5.0 Types of Pesticides
5.1.0 Herbicides
a. Pre-emergents
b. Post-emergents
c. Selective herbicides
d. Non-selective herbicides
e. Contact types
f. Sterilants
g. Foliar absorbed
h. Root absorbed
I. Both foliar and root absorbed
j. No absorption
k. Soil adsorption
l. Persistence
m. Method of degradation
n. Types of weeds controlled
o. Use in landscapes
5.1.1 Insecticides
a. Chlorinated hydrocarbons
b. Organo-Phosphates
c. Carbamates
d. Pyrethrins
e. Biologicals
f. Miscellaneous
g. Modes of action
5.1.2 Fungicides
a. Curative
b. Preventative
c. Systemic
d. Contact
5.1.3 Fumigants
a. Mode of action
b. Types of pests controlled
5.1.4 Molluscicides
a. Types of pests controlled
6.0 Pests
6.1.0 Weeds
a. Monocots
b. Dicots
c. Annuals
d. Biennials
e. Perennials
f. Noxious weeds
6.1.1 Insects
a. Body regions
b. Mouth parts
c. Complete metamorphosis
d. Incomplete or gradual metamorphosis
e. Mites
f. Slugs
6.1.2 Fungal disease organisms
a. Temperature requirements
b. Moisture requirements
c. Hosts and prevention
6.1.3 Bacterial disease
a. Favorable environment
b. Host plants
c. Prevention of transference
7.0 Pesticide formulations
7.1.0 Wettable powders
7.1.1 Dusts
7.1.2 Granules
7.1.3 Baits
7.1.4 Soluble powders
7.1.5 Emulsifiable concentrates
7.1.6 Solutions
7.1.7 Ultra low volume
8.0 Pesticide application equipment
8.1.0 Types of sprayers
8.1.1 Types of spray pumps
8.1.2 Dust application equipment
8.1.3 Granule applicators
8.1.4 Ultra low volume applicators
8.1.5 Calibration of application equipment
a. Changes in calibration
b. Mixing calculations
c. Area measurement
d. Application rates
8.1.6 Maintenance and cleaning of equipment
8.1.7 Equipment needed for application of different types of
pesticides
9.0 Pesticide storage and disposal
9.1.0 Criteria for correct storage areas
9.1.1 Proper disposal recommendations
a. Government agencies involved in disposal procedures
10.0 Adjuvants
10.1.0 Types of adjuvants
a. Surfactants
b. Markers
c. P.h. buffers
d. Anti-foam agents
e. Drift retardants
11.0 Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
11.1.0 IPM practices
a. Use pesticides as a last alternative
b. Identify economic threshold levels
c. Pest monitoring
d. Pest trapping
e. Integration of biological and chemical control
f. Pest resistance to pesticides
g. Use of predators