An informational workshop about “Proper Pesticide Use and Safety” will be offered 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Pahala Community Center. ADVERTISING An informational workshop about “Proper Pesticide Use and Safety” will be offered 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18,
An informational workshop about “Proper Pesticide Use and Safety” will be offered 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Pahala Community Center.
Derek Shigematsu, an environmental health specialist for the state under the Department of Agriculture Pesticide Branch, will discuss the Federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural workers and pesticide handlers, focusing on such topics as pesticide use and application, handling, storage and disposal. These are major production, labor, marketing, legal and financial risks growers face.
The workshop is hosted by the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Risk Management Hawaii program. Please call Gina at 322-4892 to RSVP, or email her at ginab@hawaii.edu, by Dec. 16, if you will be attending. Please bring your pesticide card to get 1.5 credits (upon approval by the state Ag Department) toward recertification. The community center is at 96-1149 Kamani St. in Pahala.
Many insecticide, nematicide, herbicide, fungicide, rodenticide, miticide, etc. products — including those that are certified organic or contain horticultural oils or soaps — are considered pesticides and are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Agricultural growers, and even homeowners, must follow all label directions. Such rules include, but are not limited to, personal protective equipment, re-entry interval periods, rates, crops allowed to be treated, storage and disposal. Noncompliant users risk inspection, citation and possible crop destruction, such as what happened to Oahu Basil. Federal regulations also require proper signage and record keeping of pesticide use.
Workers and applicators are at risk when handling and spraying pesticides. However, neighbors, property owners and managers, children, pets, consumers and the environment can also be put at risk if there is improper use, handling, storage and/or disposal of pesticides.
Workers, pesticide applicators, agricultural growers, owners, employers and managers will learn how to be compliant and how to implement the WPS requirements, thereby minimizing their risk of pesticide inspections and citations. This is a pesticide class worth 1.5 credits (1.5 CEUs in Private category 1, Commercial categories 1a and 10). Credit approval pending. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also is helping present the workshop.
