Elements and Performance Criteria
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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