North Carolina Pesticide Applicator — Requirements & Free Practice

• Labeling

  • Spray volumes.
  • Buffers and no-spray zones.
  • Weather conditions specific to wind and inversions.
• Application equipment

  • The importance of inspecting application equipment to ensure it is in proper operating condition prior to beginning an application.
  • Selecting proper nozzles to ensure appropriate pesticide dispersal and to minimize drift.
  • Knowledge of the components of an aerial pesticide application system, including pesticide hoppers, tanks, pumps, and types of nozzles.
  • Interpreting a nozzle flow rate chart.
  • Determining the number of nozzles for intended pesticide output using nozzle flow rate chart, aircraft speed, and swath width.
  • How to ensure nozzles are placed to compensate for uneven dispersal due to uneven airflow from wingtip vortices, helicopter rotor turbulence, and aircraft propeller turbulence.
  • Where to place nozzles to produce the appropriate droplet size.
  • How to maintain the application system in good repair, including pressure gauge accuracy, filter cleaning according to schedule, and checking nozzles for excessive wear.
  • How to calculate required and actual flow rates.
  • How to verify flow rate using fixed timing, open timing, known distance, or a flow meter.
  • When to adjust and calibrate application equipment.
• Application considerations

  • Weather conditions that could impact application by affecting aircraft engine power, take-off distance, and climb rate, or by promoting spray droplet evaporation.
  • How to determine wind velocity, direction, and air density at the application site.
  • The potential impact of thermals and temperature inversions on aerial pesticide application.
• Minimizing drift

  • How to determine drift potential of a product using a smoke generator.
  • How to evaluate vertical and horizontal smoke plumes to assess wind direction, speed, and concentration.
  • Selecting techniques that minimize pesticide movement out of the area to be treated.
  • Documenting special equipment configurations or flight patterns used to reduce off-target pesticide drift.
• Performing aerial application

  • Selecting a flight altitude that minimizes streaking and off-target pesticide drift.
  • Choosing a flight pattern that ensures applicator and bystander safety and proper application.
  • The importance of engaging and disengaging spray precisely when entering and exiting a predetermined swath pattern.
  • Tools available to mark swaths, such as global positioning systems and flags.
  • Recordkeeping requirements for aerial pesticide applications including application conditions if applicable.

• Label and labeling comprehension
• Safety

  • Understanding how certified applicators, handlers, and bystanders can become exposed to fumigants.
  • Common problems and mistakes that can result in direct exposure to fumigants.
  • Signs and symptoms of human exposure to fumigants.
  • When air concentrations of a fumigant triggers handlers to wear respirators or to exit the work area entirely.
  • Steps to take if a person using a fumigant experiences sensory irritation.
  • Understanding air monitoring, when it is required, and where and when to take samples.
  • Buffer zones, including procedures for buffer zone monitoring and who is permitted to be in a buffer zone.
  • First aid measures to take in the event of exposure to a fumigant.
  • Labeling requirements for transportation, storage, spill clean up, and emergency response for non-soil fumigants, including safe disposal of containers and contaminated materials, and management of empty containers.
• Non-soil fumigant chemical characteristics

  • Chemical characteristics of non-soil fumigants.
  • Specific human exposure concerns for non-soil fumigants.
  • How fumigants change from a liquid or solid to a gas.
  • How fumigants disperse in the application zone.
  • Compatibility concerns for tanks, hoses, tubing, and other equipment.
• Application

  • Application methods and equipment commonly used for non-soil fumigation.
  • Site characteristics that influence fumigant exposure.
  • Conditions that could impact timing of non-soil fumigant application, such as air stability, air temperature, humidity, and wind currents, and labeling statements limiting applications when specific conditions are present.
  • Conducting pre-application inspection of application equipment and the site to be fumigated.
  • Understanding the purpose and methods of sealing the area to be fumigated, including the factors that determine which sealing method to use.
  • Calculating the amount of product required for a specific treatment area.
  • Understanding the basic techniques for calibrating non-soil fumigant application equipment.
  • Understanding when and how to conduct air monitoring and when it is required.
• Pest factors

  • Influence of pest factors on fumigant volatility.
  • Factors that influence gaseous movement through the area being fumigated and into the air.
  • Identifying pests causing the damage and verifying they can be controlled with fumigation.
  • Understanding the relationship between pest density and application rate.
  • The importance of proper application rate and timing.
• Personal protective equipment

  • Following labeling directions for required personal protective equipment.
  • Selecting, inspecting, using, caring for, replacing, and disposing of personal protective equipment.
  • Understanding the types of respirators required when using specific soil fumigants and how to use them properly, including medical evaluation, fit testing, and required replacement of cartridges and canisters.
  • Labeling requirements and other laws applicable to medical evaluation for respirator use, fit tests, training, and recordkeeping.
• Fumigant management plans and post-application summaries

  • When a fumigant management plan must be in effect, how long it must be kept on file, where it must be kept during the application, and who must have access to it.
  • The elements of a fumigant management plan and resources available to assist the applicator in preparing a fumigant management plan.
  • The person responsible for verifying that a fumigant management plan is accurate.
  • The elements, purpose and content of a post-application summary, who must prepare it, and when it must be completed.
• Posting requirements

  • Understanding who is allowed in an area being fumigated or after fumigation and who is prohibited from being in such areas.
  • Distinguishing fumigant labeling-required posting and treated area posting, including the pre-application and post-application posting timeframes for each.
  • Proper choice and placement of warning signs.

The authority has not published an examination outline; the practice questions follow the scope of the existing question bank.

• N.C. Pesticide Laws and Regulations (Core Manual Chapters 1 and 2)
• Principles of Pest Management (Core Manual Chapter 3)
• Pesticide Labeling (Core Manual Chapter 4)
• Pesticides in the Environment (Core Manual Chapter 6)
• Pesticide Formulations (Core Manual Chapter 5)
• Hazards and First Aid (Core Manual Chapter 7)
• Personal Protective Equipment (Core Manual Chapter 8)
• Transportation, Storage, and Security (Core Manual Chapter 9)
• Emergency or Incident Response (Core Manual Chapter 10)
• Pesticide Application (Core Manual Chapter 11)
• Applying the Correct Amount (Core Manual Chapter 12)

• Label and labeling comprehension

  • Labeling requirements specific to soil fumigants.
  • Requirements for certified applicators of fumigants, fumigant handlers and permitted fumigant handler activities, and the safety information that certified applicators must provide to noncertified applicators using fumigants under the direct supervision of certified applicators.
  • Entry-restricted period for different tarped and untarped field application scenarios.
  • Recordkeeping requirements imposed by product labels and labeling.
  • Labeling provisions unique to products containing certain active ingredients.
  • Labeling requirements for fumigant management plans, such as when a fumigant management plan must be in effect, how long it must be kept on file, where it must be kept during the application, and who must have access to it; the elements of a fumigant management plan and resources available to assist the applicator in preparing a fumigant management plan; the person responsible for verifying that a fumigant management plan is accurate; and the elements, purpose and content of a post-application summary, who must prepare it, and when it must be completed.
• Safety

  • Understanding how certified applicators, noncertified applicators using fumigants under the direct supervision of certified applicators, field workers, and bystanders can become exposed to fumigants.
  • Common problems and mistakes that can result in direct exposure to fumigants.
  • Signs and symptoms of human exposure to fumigants.
  • Air concentrations of a fumigant that require applicators to wear respirators or to exit the work area entirely.
  • Steps to take if a fumigant applicator experiences sensory irritation.
  • Understanding air monitoring, when it is required, and where and when to take samples.
  • Buffer zones, including procedures for buffer zone monitoring and who is permitted to be in a buffer zone.
  • First aid measures to take in the event of exposure to a soil fumigant.
  • Labeling requirements for transportation, storage, spill cleanup, and emergency response for soil fumigants, including safe disposal of containers and contaminated soil, and management of empty containers.
• Soil fumigant chemical characteristics

  • Chemical characteristics of soil fumigants.
  • Specific human exposure concerns for soil fumigants.
  • How soil fumigants change from a liquid or solid to a gas.
  • How soil fumigants disperse in the application zone.
  • Compatibility concerns for tanks, hoses, tubing, and other equipment.
• Application

  • Application methods, including but not limited to water-run and non-water-run applications, and equipment commonly used for each soil fumigant.
  • Site characteristics that influence fumigant exposure.
  • Understanding temperature inversions and their impact on soil fumigant application.
  • Weather conditions that could impact timing of soil fumigant application, such as air stability, air temperature, humidity, and wind currents, and labeling statements limiting applications during specific weather conditions.
  • Conducting pre-application inspection of application equipment.
  • Understanding the purpose and methods of soil sealing, including the factors that determine which soil sealing method to use.
  • Understanding the use of tarps, including the range of tarps available, how to seal tarps, and labeling requirements for tarp removal, perforation, and repair.
  • Calculating the amount of product required for a specific treatment area.
  • Understanding the basic techniques for calibrating soil fumigant application equipment.
• Soil and pest factors

  • Influence of soil factors on fumigant volatility and movement within the soil profile.
  • Factors that influence gaseous movement through the soil profile and into the air.
  • Soil characteristics, including how soil characteristics affect the success of a soil fumigant application, assessing soil moisture, and correcting for soil characteristics that could hinder a successful soil fumigant application.
  • Identifying pests causing the damage and verifying they can be controlled with soil fumigation.
  • Understanding the relationship between pest density and application rate.
  • The importance of proper application depth and timing.
• Personal protective equipment

  • Following labeling directions for required personal protective equipment.
  • Selecting, inspecting, using, caring for, replacing, and disposing of personal protective equipment.
  • Understanding the types of respirators required when using specific soil fumigants and how to use them properly, including medical evaluation, fit testing, and required replacement of cartridges and canisters.
  • Labeling requirements and other laws applicable to medical evaluation for respirator use, fit tests, training, and recordkeeping.
• Fumigant management plans and post-application summaries

  • When a fumigant management plan must be in effect, how long it must be kept on file, where it must be kept during the application, and who must have access to it.
  • The elements of a fumigant management plan and resources available to assist the applicator in preparing a fumigant management plan.
  • The person responsible for verifying that a fumigant management plan is accurate.
  • The elements, purpose and content of a post-application summary, who must prepare it, and when it must be completed.
• Buffer zones and posting requirements

  • Buffer zones and the buffer zone period.
  • Identifying who may be in a buffer zone during the buffer zone period and who is prohibited from being in a buffer zone during the buffer zone period.
  • Using the buffer zone table from the labeling to determine the size of the buffer zone.
  • Factors that determine the buffer zone credits for application scenarios and calculating buffer zones using credits.
  • Distinguishing buffer zone posting and treated area posting, including the pre-application and post-application posting timeframes for each.
  • Proper choice and placement of warning signs.