10 - Pesticide Management
The judicious use of pesticides is generally required, as part of an IPM program, to minimize damage to golf course playing surfaces caused by disease, insects, and weeds in Connecticut. When an application is deemed necessary, pesticide selection should be based on effectiveness, toxicity to non-target species, site characteristics, solubility and persistence in the environment, and cost. Golf course superintendents should consider these factors to minimize human and environmental risk associated with pesticide use.
Pesticide use should be part of an overall pest management strategy that includes biological controls, cultural methods, pest monitoring, and other applicable practices, referred altogether as IPM.
Human Health Risks
Pesticides belong to numerous chemical classes that vary greatly in their toxicity. However, the risk to human health associated with pesticide use depends on both pesticide toxicity and the level of exposure. Exposure is related to how much an individual is exposed to a pesticide. Thus, the risk of a very highly toxic pesticide may actually be very low, if the exposure is sufficiently small. There are 4 pesticide signal words that help decide what level of risk is present when applying.
Best Management Practices
Select the least toxic pesticide with the lowest exposure potential. Visit the EIQ, Environmental Impact Quotient. https://nysipm.cornell.edu/eiq/
Use Reduced Risk Pesticides when appropriate
Wear PPE required by the pesticide label
Restrict staff and golfer entry to pesticide treated areas for at least one hour following application; follow re-entry restrictions listed on label requirements. If restrictions are not listed on the pesticide label, wait until sprays have dried and dusts have settled, at least one hour
Irrigate pesticides targeting soilborne pests following application to reduce exposure to foliar residues and assure that the pesticide reaches the target
Know the first aid and emergency response procedures for the product being used prior to starting in case excessive exposure occurs
Environmental Fate and Transport
Pesticides applied to any environment have the potential to interact with wildlife or migrate into surface and subsurface waters. Environmental implications of a pesticide can often be determined by the environmental hazards statement found on pesticide product labels. The “Environmental Hazards” are found under the general heading “Precautionary Statements,” which provides language advising the user of the potential hazards to the environment and off target organisms – found under three headings: general environmental hazards, non-target toxicity, and endangered species protection.
Best Management Practices
Select pesticides that have a low drift, runoff, and leaching potential; labels provide warnings about these potential issues with each product
Before applying a pesticide, evaluate the impact of site-specific characteristics (for example, proximity to surface water, water table, and well-heads; soil type; prevailing wind; etc.)
Select pesticides with reduced impact on pollinators.
Select pesticides that, when applied according to the label, have no known effect on endangered species present on the facility.
Pesticide Storage and Handling
Follow all labels – improper storage constitutes misuse of pesticide. Storage and handling of pesticides in their concentrated form poses the greatest potential risk the applicator and environment. For this reason, storage facilities must be properly sited, designed, constructed, and operated. Storage facilities should facilitate the secure, dry, and in some cases temperature-controlled storage of pesticides; provide safe working conditions for personnel with easy access to PPE; and provide secondary containment of incidental spills due to normal mixing/loading practices and secondary containment of large accidental spills and be ventilated. PPE should never be stored in the pesticide storage area. Fire extinguishers suitable for chemical fires should be readily available. Store herbicides away from other pesticides, many herbicides volatilize or off-gas and can contaminate other products.
Storage areas should be located to minimize risk to human health and the environment associated with potential spills, contaminated runoff, or fire. The location should be easily accessible to service vehicles in case of an emergency. Pesticide storage facilities should be at least 400 feet downhill from drinking water supplies and 200 feet from surface water. They should not be placed within a 100-year floodplain, and storm runoff should be diverted around them. Pesticide storage should always be locked and have signage indicating, Danger, Keep Out, Chemical Hazards, or similar. The local fire department should be informed about the storage unit, what it contains, and where it is located.
Best Management Practices
Store, mix, and load pesticides away from sites that directly link to surface water or groundwater.
Whenever possible, store pesticides in a lockable concrete or metal building that is separate from other buildings.
Locate pesticide storage facilities away from other types of structure to allow fire department access.
Storage facility floors should be impervious and sealed with a chemical-resistant paint.
Powders should never be stored below liquids
Floors should have a continuous sill to retain spilled materials and no drains, although a sump may be included.
Sloped ramps should be provided at the entrance to allow the use of wheeled handcarts for moving material in and out of the storage area safely.
Shelving should be made of sturdy plastic or reinforced metal.
Metal shelving should be kept painted to avoid corrosion. Wood shelving should never be used because it may absorb spilled pesticides.
Automatic exhaust fans and an emergency wash area should be provided.
Light and fan switches should be located outside the building, so that both can be turned on before employees enter the building and can be turned off after they leave the building.
Avoid temperatures less than 40°F or greater than 100°F inside the pesticide storage facility.
Personal protective equipment should be easily accessible and stored immediately outside the pesticide storage area.
Place a spill containment kit and fire extinguisher in the storage area, in the mix/load area, and on the spray rig.
Pesticide Inventory & Storage
Pesticides degrade over time. Do not store large quantities of pesticides for long periods, only mix the amount you plan on using. Adopt the “first in–first out” principle, using the oldest products first to ensure that the product shelf life does not expire. When bringing in new product, date the labels to be able to identify the oldest in inventory. Avoid storing pesticides more than two years old and make sure temperatures do not exceed 100º F or drop below 40º F at any time. Utilize computer software systems to record inventory and use. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and copies of labels for all pesticides on hand should be kept in an easily identifiable location, outside the pesticide storage facility.
Best Management Practices
Avoid purchasing large quantities of pesticides that require storage for greater than six months.
Adopt the “first in–first out” principle, using the oldest products first to ensure that the product shelf life does not expire.
Ensure labels are on every package and container.
Arrange containers so the labels are clearly visible. Securely fasten loose labels to ensure containers and associated labels are kept together.
Damaged labels should be replaced immediately.
Store flammable pesticides separate from those that are nonflammable.
Store liquid materials below dry materials to prevent leaks from contaminating dry products.
Ensure that oil containers and small fuel containers (service containers) are properly labeled and stored within the facility
Date containers when they are received to inform rotations
Keep a separate notebook with copies labels and SDS sheets outside of the storage area in an office.
Consult inventory when planning and before making purchases.
Have inventory easily acceptable for review in case of fire to help containment issues.
Control temperature to avoid extreme hot or cold.
Pesticide Mixing/Washing
Pesticide leaks or spills, if contained, will not percolate down through the soil into groundwater or run off the surface to contaminate streams, ditches, ponds, and other waterbodies. One of the best containment methods is the use of a properly designed and constructed chemical mixing center (CMC).
Handling open pesticide containers, measuring pesticide materials, or working with pesticide application equipment presents an exposure risk to the handlers and the environment. Applicators and handlers must put on label-required PPE prior to opening pesticide packages. Consider using closed systems when available.
Best Management Practices
Loading pesticides and mixing them with water or oil diluents should be done over an impermeable surface, so that spills can be collected and managed.
The mixing station surface should offer easy cleaning and the recovery of spilled materials.
Pump the sump dry and clean it at the end of each day.
Liquids and sediments should be removed from the sump and properly managed and disposed of.
Apply liquids and sediments from the sump as you would a pesticide, strictly following label instructions.
Sweep up solid materials and use as intended.
Collect wash water (from both inside and outside the application equipment) and use it as a pesticide in accordance with the label instructions.
The rinsate may be applied as a pesticide (preferred) or stored for use as makeup water for the next compatible application. Caution: do not mix herbicide rinsate with other products.
Personal Protective Equipment
Based on exposure, pesticide handlers and applicators are at the greatest risk for potential adverse health effects. Exposure to pesticides can be mitigated by practicing good work habits and adopting modern pesticide mix/load equipment (e.g., closed-system loading) that reduce potential exposure. PPE statements on pesticide labels provide the applicator with important information about protection. Handling concentrated pesticide products has the greatest potential for exposure as an applicator.
Best Management Practices
Provide adequate PPE for all employees who work with pesticides (including equipment technicians who service pesticide application equipment).
Ensure that PPE is sized appropriately for each person using it.
Make certain that PPE is appropriate for the chemicals used.
Always use appropriate PPE where pesticide residues may be present.
Ensure that PPE meets rigorous testing standards and is not just the least expensive.
Store PPE where it is easily accessible but not in the pesticide storage area.
Forbid employees who apply pesticides from wearing facility uniforms home where they may come into contact with children.
Provide laundering facilities or uniform service for employee uniforms.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to fit-test workers annually who must wear tight-fitting respirators.
Meet requirements for OSHA 1910.134 Respiratory Protection Program: https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=12716&p_table=standards
Pesticide Container Management
The containers of some commonly used pesticides are classified as hazardous waste if not properly rinsed, and as such, are subject to the many rules and regulations governing hazardous waste. The improper disposal of a hazardous waste can result in high fines and/or criminal penalties. However, pesticide containers that have been properly rinsed can be handled and disposed of as nonhazardous solid waste.
Best Management Practices
Refer to the label for disposal requirements
Rinse pesticide containers immediately in order to remove the most residue; determine proper management and disposal of residue in accordance with label instructions.
Rinse containers during the mixing and loading process and add rinsate water to the finished spray mix.
Rinse emptied pesticide containers by either triple rinsing or pressure rinsing.
Puncture empty, rinsed pesticide containers and dispose of them according to the label.
Emergency Preparedness and Spill Response
Accidents can happen. Advance preparation on what to do when an accident occurs is essential to mitigate the human health effects and the impact on the environment.
An emergency response plan containing actions to take and personnel to contact in the event of a spill or accident should be in place. The plan should include the following information:
Names and quantities of pesticides in inventory.
Location of property, including a map and directions (to relay over phone in emergency).
Names, addresses, and phone numbers of the designated spokesperson, superintendent, and key employees.
Plan of facility showing pesticide storage locations, flammable materials, electrical service, water supply, fuel storage tanks, fire hydrants, storm drains, and nearby wetlands, ponds, or streams.
Location of emergency equipment supplies.
Contact information for fire, police, hospital, pesticide bureau, spill clean-up firm, board of health, and facility owner.
Ensure that copies of the plan are located near the pesticide storage facility and the office and distributed to local police and fire departments. Maintain copies in English and any other language commonly used by employees. Be sure to update the information regularly for local police and fire departments.
Best Management Practices
Develop a golf course facility emergency response plan that includes procedures to control, contain, collect, and store spilled materials.
An inventory of the pesticides kept in the storage building and the SDS for the chemicals used in the operation should be accessible on the premises, but not kept in the pesticide storage room itself.
Prominently post “Important Telephone Numbers” including CHEMTREC, for emergency information on hazards or actions to take in the event of a spill.
Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222
DEEP 24-hour Emergency spill reporting (860) 424-3338 www.deep.pesticideprogram@ct.gov
Ensure an adequately sized spill containment kit is readily available.
Designate a spokesperson who will speak on behalf of the facility should an emergency occur.
Sprayers, Nozzles, and Calibration
Various types and sizes of application equipment are readily available. The size of the equipment (tank size, boom width, etc.) should match the scale of the target area. Larger ride-on sprayers are more efficient for large areas, while small walk-behind boom sprayers are well suited for smaller areas. Smaller boom lengths may increase the accuracy of applications, minimizing overspray on non-target areas. Individual nozzle control on global positioning system (GPS) assisted boom sprayers can further minimize overspray of non-target areas and has resulted in 25 percent less pesticide applied at some golf courses (USGA Green Section, 2016).
Properly calibrated application equipment is paramount to mitigating environmental and human health concerns. Sprayer output is dependent on several variables (e.g., speed, nozzle size, pressure). Spray coverage is often reduced at greater application speeds, regardless of nozzle size. To maximize efficacy of pesticide applications, applicators should consider optimization of spray coverage versus efficiency of labor when choosing spray speeds.
Best Management Practices
Use an appropriately sized applicator for the size of area being treated.
Equipment too large in size requires greater volumes to prime the system. This can result in significant waste that must be properly managed and disposed of.
Use wide-angle, air-induction, flat-fan nozzles to minimize spray drift to non-target areas.
Ensure that the spray technician is experienced, licensed with a supervisor on site, and properly trained.
Minimize off-target movement of pesticides by using properly configured application equipment.
Properly calibrate all application equipment at the beginning of each season (at a minimum) and after equipment modifications.
Check equipment daily when in use.
Use recommended spray volumes for the targeted pest to maximize efficacy.
Calibration of walk-behind applicators should be conducted for each person making the application to take into consideration their walking speed and other variables.
Pesticide Record Keeping
Maintaining accurate records of pesticide-related activities (for example, purchases, storage, inventory, applications, spills, etc.) is essential.
Best Management Practices
Keep and maintain records of all pesticides used to meet legal (federal, state, and local) reporting requirements. https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/pesticides/Certification/Supervisor/Statsandregspdf.pdf
www.portal.ct.gov to pay the $250 Golf Course Annual Fee.
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Pesticides/Pesticide-Management-Program; annual fee for golf courses which have a course length of greater than 1,000 yards. This fee must be paid to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection no later than December 31 of each year.
Visit State of Connecticut website and have a minimum of one certified supervisor and one operator for applications. $200 fee required.
Use records to monitor pest control efforts and to plan future management actions.
Use electronic or hard-copy forms and software tools to track pesticide inventory and use.
Keep a backup set of records in a safe but separate storage area.
