Course Description
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely prepare and apply chemicals for the control of pests, weeds and diseases, using general application equipment.
The unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and for solving problems.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Determine the need for chemical use and prepare an application plan
- Identify the pest, weed or disease, and assess the need for control
- Assess the requirement for chemical use
- Assess health and safety hazard, risks and controls for different chemicals
- Confirm requirement for chemical application according to workplace procedures
- Assess off target risk of each application method
- Assess the environmental risk for application method
- Notify stakeholders of intended chemical application according to workplace procedures and legislative and regulatory requirements
- Prepare application plan according to workplace procedures
2. Prepare chemical mixes
- Identify and select chemical required for target according to application plan
- Calculate the volume, rate or dose according to chemical label instructions
- Identify and select application equipment and set-up requirements according to application plan and operator instructions
- Identify hazards, assess risks and implement control measures for application method according to chemical label and health and safety in the workplace procedures
- Identify, select, fit and use personal protective equipment (PPE) according to workplace procedures
- Select appropriate mixing equipment and suitable location to prepare and load chemicals according to workplace procedures
- Prepare chemicals according to chemical label instructions
- Return unused chemical to store and clean preparation equipment and work site of residues and spillage according to chemical label instructions and workplace procedures
3. Calibrate application equipment
- Select application equipment for chemical according to application plan, off target risks and workplace procedures
- Conduct pre-operational checks of application equipment according to operator and maintenance manual
- Calibrate equipment according to operating instructions and application plan
- Load equipment with chemical according to operating instructions and workplace safety procedures
4. Apply chemicals
- Monitor and assess weather conditions and forecasts to ensure effective chemical application according to application plan
- Select, ensure serviceability, fit and use PPE according to chemical label instructions and workplace procedures
- Apply chemical according to label directions and application plan relating to the control of the pest, weed or disease
- Monitor application equipment for correct performance and ensure effective chemicals application according to operating instructions
- Identify health and safety in the workplace hazards and risks and implement controls
- Clean up spills during application according to chemical label instructions and workplace procedures
5. Clean up equipment and complete records
- Clean and decontaminate application equipment according to operator instructions, safety data sheets (SDS) and legislative requirements
- Dispose of chemicals and used containers according to chemical label instructions, SDS and legislative requirements
- Clean and store PPE according to workplace procedures
- Record and report safety and environmental incidents according to workplace procedures and regulatory requirements
- Record details of chemical application according to workplace procedures and legislative requirements