Safe Application of Pesticides PA1.

Guide to Revising

Revision – funnel your knowledge…

🧠 “Build your revision like a funnel — start wide with full notes, narrow it down to a clear guide, then finish with a short summary to keep the key points sharp for your practical.”

🎓 Quick Exam Revision Sheet
Remember the BIG 5
1️⃣ READ THE LABEL 📖
2️⃣ WEAR PPE 🧤
3️⃣ CHECK WEATHER 🌬
4️⃣ PROTECT WATER 💧
5️⃣ KEEP RECORDS 📝

If you remember those five things, you will answer most PA1 questions correctly.

✅ Simple rule:
Safe operator = safe farm + safe food + safe environment.

Take Practice test 1

Take Practice Test 2

Take Practice Test 3

🌾🧪 PA1 Pesticide Safety Guide

Simple handbook for PA1
Think of pesticide work like driving a tractor on the road 🚜
You must know the rules, check your machine, and keep people safe.

🧠 The Golden Rule
📖 READ THE LABEL — IT’S THE LAW
Everything important is on the label.
Use the memory trick:
L.A.B.E.L

Letter	Meaning	What to check
L	Legal use	Where it can be used (field of use)
A	Amount	Maximum dose/application rate
B	Before harvest	Latest time of application
E	Equipment & PPE	What protective gear is needed
L	Look after environment	Buffer zones and water protection

📌 If you ignore the label you are breaking the law.

🛑 Before You Spray — The 5 SAFE Checks
Remember:
✋ S.A.F.E.R

Letter	Check	What it means
S	Sprayer	Check hoses, nozzles, leaks
A	Assessment	Read COSHH risk assessment
F	Forecast	Check weather conditions
E	Equipment	Wear correct PPE
R	Read label	Always read it before use

If one of these is missing → STOP
🧥 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Think “G.A.B.F.R”
(pronounced gab-fer)

Icon	PPE	Why
🧤	Gloves	Stop chemicals touching skin
🧥	Coveralls	Protect clothes & skin
👢	Boots	Protect feet
😷	Respirator	Protect lungs (if required)
🛡	Face shield	Protect eyes/face

⚠️ PPE must be:
clean
undamaged
correct type
Wash it after use and never take contaminated PPE home.

🧪 Mixing Pesticides Safely
Remember: MIX

Letter	Meaning
M	Measure carefully
I	In PPE
X	eXtra care – avoid spills

Steps:
1️⃣ PPE on
2️⃣ Measure correctly
3️⃣ Mix at filling point
4️⃣ Close container immediately

🚜 Spraying – Do it Right
Use the D.R.O.P.S rule

Letter	Meaning
D	Drift control – avoid wind
R	Right nozzle
O	Observe surroundings
P	Pressure correct
S	Spray steady

💨 Spray Quality (Droplet Size)
Think H.F.I

Chemical	Spray Type
🌱 Herbicides	Medium / Coarse
🍄 Fungicides	Fine / Medium
🐛 Insecticides	Fine / Medium

Large droplets = less drift 👍

🌬 Weather – Good or Bad?
Ideal spraying weather:
🌬 Light breeze (2-4 mph)
☁ Cool or cloudy
🌅 Morning or evening
Avoid:
💨 Strong wind
🌧 Rain
🔥 Very hot days
🤫 Completely still air

💧 Protect Water (VERY IMPORTANT)
Remember W.A.T.E.R

Letter	Meaning
W	Watch buffer zones
A	Avoid drains & ditches
T	Take care filling sprayer
E	Equipment cleaned safely
R	Reduce drift

Water pollution from pesticides can lead to prosecution by the Environment Agency.

🚫 Spray Drift
Drift = pesticide blown away from the target.
To prevent drift:
✔ Lower pressure
✔ Bigger droplets
✔ Keep boom low
✔ Avoid windy conditions
Never spray onto:
🚶 Public footpaths
🌻 Gardens or allotments
🐄 Livestock areas
💧 Watercourses

🧯 Spillages – What To Do
Remember S.T.O.P

Letter	Meaning
S	Stop the spill
T	Trap it with sand/absorbent
O	Organise safe disposal
P	Protect yourself (PPE)

Do not wash it down drains.

🤢 If Someone Is Contaminated
Look for symptoms:
🤢 nausea
😵 headache
😮 breathing problems
🔥 irritated skin
Follow W.A.S.H

Letter	Meaning
W	Wash skin immediately
A	Away from chemical
S	Strip contaminated clothes
H	Help – call medical assistance

Doctors may contact the experts at the
National Poisons Information Service.
Always bring the product label.

🏠 Pesticide Storage
Think L.O.C.K

Letter	Meaning
L	Locked store
O	Out of reach of people/animals
C	Contained floor (no leaks)
K	Keep away from food/feed

Other rules:
✔ Liquids stored below powders
✔ Warning sign on door
✔ Stock list kept up to date

🚚 Transporting Pesticides
Never transport pesticides:
❌ In the cab with the driver
❌ With food or animal feed
Carry:
🧯 Fire extinguisher
👁 Eye wash
🧤 PPE
🪣 Spill kit

🗑 Disposal
Remember T.R.I.P.L.E
1️⃣ Triple rinse containers
2️⃣ Return rinse water to sprayer
3️⃣ Prepare container for disposal
Never:
🔥 burn containers
🪦 bury containers

📝 Records (Required by Law)
Use the memory trick:
W.H.A.T.W.H.E.N

Item	Record
Who	Operator name
Where	Field / location
What	Product used
Why	Reason for treatment
When	Date and time
How	Dose & spray rate
Environment	Weather conditions