Pesticide Safety & Handling Flashcards

When mixing two pesticide products, which action should be performed first?

Answer: Fill the tank half full with water before adding pesticides

Filling the tank partially with water first prevents dangerous concentrate-to-concentrate reactions and ensures safer dilution.

A pesticide label states 'Do not apply within 25 feet of water.' This instruction refers to:

Answer: Any body of water including ponds, lakes, streams, and wetlands

Buffer zone restrictions on labels apply to all water bodies unless the label specifically limits the restriction.

Which type of pesticide formulation poses the GREATEST inhalation hazard during mixing and loading?

Answer: Wettable powders

Wettable powders generate fine dust particles that can easily become airborne and inhaled during handling.

What does a signal word of 'DANGER' on a pesticide label indicate?

Answer: The product is highly toxic (Category I)

'DANGER' is the signal word for Category I pesticides, the most acutely toxic classification.

Pesticide-contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE) should be laundered:

Answer: Separately from household clothing and the washer run empty afterward

Washing contaminated PPE separately prevents cross-contamination of regular clothes and the empty-cycle removes residue from the machine.

An applicator notices a punctured pesticide container leaking in the storage area. The FIRST step should be to:

Answer: Put on appropriate PPE before handling the container

Personal protection must come first — donning appropriate PPE before approaching a leaking container prevents exposure.

The 're-entry interval' (REI) listed on a pesticide label specifies:

Answer: The minimum time workers must stay out of treated areas after application

The REI is the minimum time workers must wait before entering a treated area without required PPE.