Scottish Government

Draft Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Plant Protection Products in Scotland

This Code of Practice has been prepared jointly by the Scottish Executive and the Health and Safety Commission (HSC).

This document is also available in pdf format (756k)

Contents

Covering Letter
Emergency procedures
Notices
Introduction
Is it necessary to use a pesticide?
What is this Code of Practice about?
Who should read this Code?
What advice is contained in the Code?
What other advice is available?
Special terms
Part 1: Training and certification
Who must be trained in the use of pesticides?
What training is required?
When is a certificate of competence required for users of pesticides?
What training and certification are required for salespeople, advisors and contract specifiers?
Can I work without a certificate of competence?
Continuing professional development
Where can I get training?
Part 2: Planning and preparation
Section 2.1: Minimising the impact of pesticide use
What to do if you decide the use of a pesticide is necessary
Selecting the right pesticide
Section 2.2: Understanding the product label
Approved text and other text
Product identity
The statutory area
Safety information
Directions for use
Labelling of treated seed and other propagating material
Extension of use
Section 2.3: Storage of pesticides by users
Moving pesticides in and out of the store
Do not leave pesticide containers unattended
Section 2.4: The COSHH assessment
When is an assessment suitable and sufficient?
Finding out about the hazards
Assessing the risks: who might be harmed and how
Deciding what needs to be done to control exposure
Recording the assessment
Reviewing the assessment
Section 2.5: Preventing and controlling work-related exposures of people to pesticides
How can exposure be prevented or adequately controlled?
Measures for preventing exposure to pesticides
Measures for controlling exposure to pesticides
Using personal protective equipment (PPE)
Suitable PPE
Maintaining control measures
Welfare facilities
What employees and self-employed people need to do
Section 2.6: Monitoring exposure and health surveillance
When is exposure monitoring required?
What is health surveillance?
When is health surveillance necessary?
What else do employers need to do?
What about sudden illness?
Section 2.7: Protecting the public
When is notification necessary?
Notifying occupiers of adjacent property and bystanders
Vulnerable groups
Buffer zones
Public rights of way
Section 2.8: Protecting wildlife and the environment
How can wildlife and plants be protected?
Specially designated areas
Wild birds and mammals
Honeybees
Other beneficial insects and non-target arthropods
Livestock
Fish and other aquatic life
Wildlife incident investigation scheme (WIIS)
Preventing pesticides from contaminating of surface water and groundwater
Direction of spraying near watercourses
Application of pesticides from an aircraft
Invasive weeds
Part 3: Working with pesticides
Section 3.1: Preparing to apply pesticides
Dangerous practices
Section 3.2: Handling pesticide containers
Section 3.3: Transporting pesticides by users
General precautions to be taken when transporting pesticides
Transporting pesticides inside a vehicle
Loading and unloading pesticides
Further action
Section 3.4: Filling equipment
Section 3.5 Application methods
Which application methods need special precautions?
Ground-based reduced-volume spraying
Fogs, mists and smokes as space treatments
Fumigants
Dust, granule, pellet and bait application
Using vehicles without cabs
Paved areas and public footpaths
Using hand-held equipment
Seed treatments
Dipping and drenching treatments
Weed control in or near water
Application of pesticides from an aircraft
Section 3.6: Spray drift
What causes spray drift?
Weather conditions
How can spray drift be prevented?
Section 3.7: After working with pesticides
What needs to be done after a pesticide has been applied?
Part 4: Keeping records
Records of pesticide treatments
COSHH assessment records
Environmental risk assessment records
Exposure monitoring records
Maintenance records of exposure control measures
Health surveillance records
Part 5: Disposal of pesticide waste
How can you reduce the production of waste?
How to dispose of waste pesticide concentrates and ready-to-use formulations
How to dispose of dilute pesticide waste
How to dispose of waste pesticide containers
How to dispose of other pesticide waste materials
Where can I get more information?
Annex A: Legislation.
Legislation referred to in this Code.
The official status of this Code.
Annex B: Bibliography
Annex C: Glossary
Annex D: Equipment terminology
Annex E: Addresses
Annex F: Storage of pesticides by users
Annex G: Guidance on using personal protective equipment
Annex H: Record sheet for pesticide treatments
Annex I: Application of pesticides from an aircraft
Annex J: Safety considerations when preparing and managing amenity pesticide application contracts
Annex K: Safety considerations for amenity and industrial pesticide uses in high-security or high-risk areas
Index

Photographs courtesy of:
Bayer Environmental Science
Forestry Commission
Hardi International
Horticulture Research International
Logic Manufacturing Limited
National Association of Agricultural Contractors