Toll Free: 1-877-977-6774
Email: tgarner@pdsolutions.ca ☰

Key regulatory changes and what they mean and public impact ; Pesticide Safety and reporting issues. Species at Risk Regulation

An overview of how a pesticide is taken from the lab to the market. Pesticide development is a long, expensive process and must jump many hurdles in order to make it to market. Join Tim Garner as he looks at the steps in developing a pesticide. Realize how the registration process ensures that the public, applicator and the environment are protected with the testing that is required.

Many of us have applied pesticides for many years but there are many aspects of a pesticide applicator that we do very infrequently and thus do not know all the answers. Join Tim as he goes through some aspects of regulations in a question and answer form to help remind us of some things we probably knew when we took the exam but now could use some refreshing. This web cast is very interactive as you will be asked to answer questions throughout the session using the chat box. All you need is your computer screen, speakers to hear and your keyboard to answer. Let's have some fun and discussion.

Reading legislation can be complicated and many times difficult to understand. Tim Garner, in this one hour web cast seminar, developed a number of questions to ask yourself around water. The answers to these questions will help you determine what is an open body of water in Alberta, and depending on the plants you are growing and pesticides you plan on using, whether you require a permit or not.

Pesticide storage is an important aspect of being a pesticide applicator. It is important to store your pesticides correctly. This web cast reviews some of the basic concepts to follow when storing pesticides. Many of the rules and regulations of pesticide storage are easy to compile with such as signage and organization. Take this one hour web cast to update your knowledge on pesticide storage so that you store your pesticides properly and safely.

Recertification Requirements; authorized and non-certified assistants, Special Use approval; Emergency response. Healthy Lawn Strategy and Alberta findings with use of Turf Herbicides

The Presentations examine incidents that occurred resulting in significant human and animal health, environmental (eg. bee kills), property damage issues that could have been eliminated if the applicator had undertaken to provide notification to adjacent landowners and bystanders. Notification can be as simple as a 5minute call, an email with a factsheet on spraying etc. to ensure neighbors are aware that spraying is going to occur and to provide some simple steps they can take to eliminate an incident should drift or off-site movement of the pesticide occur.

Alberta Environment and Parks will be updating the Pesticide (Ministerial) Regulation, the Pesticide Sales, Handling, Use and Application Regulation and the Environmental Code of Practise for Pesticides in 2016. Most changes are minor in nature, however because of changing label statements (ie. users must be certified), changing record keeping and transportation requirements, some changes will result in significant changes to pesticide applicators, assistants, vendors etc. In addition, the Code is being updated to allow more applications near water providing the new Code provisions are met.

This presentation focuses on how Alberta Environment and Parks uses labels during their pesticide related investigations. I start by identifying the main incidents and then identify the parts of the label that are used during the investigation. For example, when conducting a drift incident an EPO will: From the primary panel of the label – determine the active ingredient and look for damage symptoms consistent with the type of reported damage. From the Precautions section – conduct a hazard assessment to protect themselves (also use SDS), ensure the REI has lapse, determine PPE to wear Env. Hazard section of label check for prohibitions (i.e. do not contaminate water…), ensure the application meets the regulatory requirements near water (i.e. S. 7 of the Pesticide (ministerial) regulation and the Code of Practice for Pesticides) – several slides discuss requirements check that label buffer zones have been followed and discuss when reg, code and label buffer zones are different – which applies and why? Check Directions for Use section to determine: Use location is authorized on the label Pest is included on the label Application method is specified (aerial or ground) – several slides identifying when aerial appln. can be conducted, including calibration requirements and special aerial insurance and label training requirements (e.g. Monsanto training course) Take samples if damage consistent with symptoms Request records from applicator and look at the records and compare them with: the label specifications, meteorological conditions at the time and record requirements in the regulations.

Reporting spills and adverse effects is a legislated requirement in Alberta and throughout Canada. This presentation will discuss what is meant by adverse effects, minimum reportable spills and adverse effects and what agency to report the spills to for the western provinces and Ontario. It will also discuss what will happen after a spill or adverse effect has been reported and the consequences of not reporting spills and adverse effects.