Section 20-2304. COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS: STANDARDS FOR DETERMINATION OF COMPETENCY

 

2304.1 The standards prescribed in this section shall be used to determine the competency of each commercial applicator prior to his or her certification.

 

2304.2A commercial applicator shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the principles and practices of pest control and safe use of pesticides.

 

2304.3A commercial applicator shall demonstrate mastery of the principles of integrated pest management.

 

2304.4Testing shall be based on examples of problems and situations appropriate to the particular category or subcategory of the applicator’s certification, as well as the following areas of competency:

 

(a) Label and labeling comprehension, including the following factors:

 

(1) The general format and terminology of pesticide labels and labeling;

 

(2) Understanding instructions, warnings, terms, symbols, and other information commonly appearing on pesticide labels;

 

(3) Classification of the product; and

 

(4) Necessity for use consistent with the label; 

 

(b) Pests, including factors such as the following:

 

(1) Common features of pest organisms and characteristics of damage needed for pest recognition;

 

(2) Recognition of relevant pests; and

 

(3) Pest development and biology as it may be relevant to problem identification and control; 

 

(c) Safety, including the following factors:

 

(1) Pesticide toxicity, common exposure routes, and hazard to humans;

 

(2) Common types and causes of pesticide accidents;

 

(3) Precautions necessary to guard against injury to applicators and other individuals in or near treated areas;

 

(4) Need for and use of protective clothing and equipment;

 

(5) Symptoms of pesticide poisoning;

 

(6) First aid and other procedures to be followed in case of a pesticide accident; and

 

(7) Proper identification, storage, transport, handling, mixing procedures, and disposal methods for pesticides and used pesticide containers, including precautions to be taken to prevent children from gaining access to pesticides and pesticide containers; 

 

(d) Environment, including the potential environmental consequences of the use and misuse of pesticides as may be influenced by factors such as the following:

 

(1) Weather and other climatic conditions;

 

(2) Types of terrain, soil, or other substrate;

 

(3) Presence of fish, wildlife, and other non-target organisms; and

 

(4) Drainage patterns; 

 

(e) Pesticides, including factors such as the following:

 

(1) Types of pesticides;

 

(2) Types of formulations;

 

(3) Compatibility, synergism, persistence, and animal and plant toxicity of the formulations;

 

(4) Hazards and residues associated with use;

 

(5) Factors that influence effectiveness or that lead to problems such as a resistance to pesticides; and

 

(6) Dilution procedures; 

 

(f) Equipment, including the following factors:

 

(1) Types of equipment and advantages and limitations of each type; and

 

(2) Uses, maintenance, and calibration; 

 

(g) Application techniques, including the following factors:

 

(1) Methods and procedures used to apply various formulations of pesticides, solutions and gases, together with a knowledge of which technique of application to use in a given situation;

 

(2) Relationship of discharge and placement of pesticides to proper use, unnecessary use, and misuse; and

 

(3) Prevention of drift and pesticide loss into the environment; and

 

(h) All applicable District and federal laws and regulations.

 

2304.5 In order to be certified in a particular category(ies) or subcategory(ies), commercial applicators shall demonstrate qualification in their respective category(ies) or subcategory(ies) according to the practical knowledge standards specified in §§ 2304.6 through 2304.13.

 

2304.6 Ornamental and Turf Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of pesticide problems associated with the production and maintenance of ornamental trees, plantings, shrubs, and turf, including cognizance of potential phytotoxicity due to a wide variety of plant material, drift, and persistence beyond the intended period of pest control. Because of the frequent proximity of human habitations to application activities, applicators shall be knowledgeable about the various application methods that will minimize or prevent hazards to humans, pets, and other domestic animals.

 

2304.7 Aquatic Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the secondary effects that can be caused by improper application rates, incorrect formulations, and faulty application of restricted-use pesticides used in this category. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of various water use situations and the potential of down-stream effects. Further, applicators shall have practical knowledge concerning potential pesticide effects on plants, fish, birds, beneficial insects, and other organisms which may be present in aquatic environments. These applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the principles of limited area application.

 

2304.8 Right-of-Way Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of a wide variety of environments, since rights-of-ways can traverse many different terrains, including waterways. These applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of problems of runoff, drift, and excessive foliage destruction, and ability to recognize target organisms. They shall also demonstrate practical knowledge of the nature of herbicides and the need for containment of these pesticides within the rights-of-way area, and the impact of their application activities in the adjacent areas and communities.

 

2304.9 Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health Related Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of a wide variety of pests, including their life cycles, types of formulations appropriate for their control, and methods of application that avoid contamination of food, damage and contamination of habitat, and exposure of people and pets. Since human exposure, including babies, children, pregnant women, and elderly people, is frequently a potential problem, applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of the specific factors that may lead to a hazardous condition, including continuous exposure in the various situations encountered in this category. Because health related pest control may involve outdoor applications, applicators shall also demonstrate practical knowledge of environmental conditions that are particularly related to this activity.

 

2304.10 Public Health Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of vector-disease transmission as it relates to and influences application programs. A wide variety of pests is involved, and it is essential that these be known and recognized, and that appropriate life cycles and habitats be understood as a basis for a control strategy. These applicators shall have practical knowledge of a great variety of environments ranging from streams to those conditions found in buildings. They also should have practical knowledge of the importance and employment of such nonchemical control methods as sanitation, waste disposal, and drainage.

 

2304.11 Regulatory Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of regulated pests, applicable laws relating to quarantine and other regulation of pests, and the potential impact on the environment of restricted-use pesticides used in suppression and eradication programs. They shall demonstrate knowledge of factors influencing introduction, spread, and population dynamics of relevant pests. Their knowledge shall extend beyond that required by their immediate duties, since their services are frequently required in other areas of the country where emergency measures are invoked to control regulated pests and where individual judgments must be made in new situations.

 

2304.12 Demonstration and Research Pest Control - persons demonstrating the safe and effective use of pesticides to other applicators and the public shall meet comprehensive standards reflecting a broad spectrum of pesticide uses. Many different pest problem situations will be encountered in the course of activities associated with demonstration; and practical knowledge of problems, pests, and population levels occurring in each demonstration situation is required. Further, applicators shall demonstrate an understanding of pesticide-organism interactions, and the importance of integrating pesticide use with other control methods. In general, it shall be expected that applicators doing demonstration pest control work possess a practical knowledge of all of the standards detailed in § 2304.4 of this section. In addition, applicators shall meet the specific standards required for the categories listed as §§ 2304.6 through 2304.9 as may be applicable to their particular activity.

 

2304.13 Miscellaneous Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of the type of pest(s) and pesticide(s) problems as it relates to a particular type of pest control activity.  If appropriate, the applicator may be required to demonstrate a practical knowledge of a wide variety of pests, including their life cycles, types of formulations appropriate for their control, and methods of application, potential effects on the environment, and principles of limited area application.  The District Department of the Environment shall specify a specific subcategory pertaining to the applicant’s request for certification.

 

 

authority

Section 12(a) of the Pesticide Operations Act of 1977, effective April 18, 1978 (D.C. Law 2-70; D.C. Official Code § 8-411(a) (2013 Repl.)); Section 11(a) of the Pesticide Education and Control Amendment Act of 2012, effective October 23, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-191; D.C. Official Code § 8-440(a) (2013 Repl.)); Section 103(b)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the District Department of the Environment Establishment Act of 2005, effective February 15, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-51; D.C. Official Code § 8-151.03(b)(1)(B)(ii)(II) (2013 Repl.)); the Brownfields Revitalization Amendment Act of 2010 (Brownfields Act), effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-369; D.C. Official Code §§ 8-631.01 et seq. (2013 Repl.)); and Mayor’s Order 98-47, dated April 15, 1998, as amended by Mayor’s Order 2006-61, dated June 14, 2006.

source

The Pesticide Operations Act of 1977, effective April 18, 1978 (D.C. Law 2-70; 24 DCR 6867 (February 17, 1978)); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 25 DCR 3044 (October 6, 1978), incorporating the text of the Proposed Rulemaking published at 25 DCR 2118 (August 25, 1978); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 30 DCR 2204 (May 13, 1983); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 3340 (March 20, 2015).