Rule 901:5-11-02 | Trained servicepersons, safety and restrictions.
(A) Trained servicepersons.
(1) No employee shall act as a trained serviceperson unless, before the employee's first occupational exposure to pesticides, the employee has:
(a) Read the Ohio department of agriculture manual "Safety Training Guide for Trained Servicepersons," or
(b) Completed an employer sponsored training program which provides training equivalent to that provided in the manual.
(2) The employee and the immediate supervisor shall verify in writing that the employee has either read the manual or received equivalent training prior to the employee's first exposure to pesticides. The written verification shall be kept on file by the employer throughout the trained serviceperson's period of employment and for three years following termination of the trained serviceperson's employment. This written verification shall be made available to the director of agriculture for inspection.
(3) No trained serviceperson shall apply pesticides for their employer unless the trained serviceperson is directly supervised by a commercial applicator that is located within either twenty-five miles distance or two hours time to the work site during the trained serviceperson's pesticide application activities.
(B) No person shall:
(1) Use a pesticide except in accordance with the label which is registered with the Ohio department of agriculture, or in accordance with sections 5, 18, or 24(c) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq. and the rules adopted thereunder.
(2) Employ to perform an activity subject to section 921.01 of the Revised Code:
(a) Any person who is forbidden such employment by state or federal labor laws; or
(b) Any person who is mentally incompetent or for any reason is unable to satisfactorily communicate with or understand instructions given by the pesticide applicator.
(3) Permit any person under the age of eighteen years to handle, mix, or load a pesticide displaying on its label the signal words "danger - poison" without on-site supervision by a pesticide applicator.
(4) Permit any person to mix or load pesticides in an area where the light, whether natural or artificial, is insufficient to read the pesticide label and work in a safe manner.
(5) Operate application equipment which draws water from surface waters or public water supplies unless the equipment has an effective anti-siphon device to prevent backflow.
(6) Operate equipment for the application of pesticides, including such auxiliary equipment as hoses and metering devices in such conditions or in such a manner as to result in leakage, spillage, dripping, backflow, vapors, or drift.
(7) Knowingly loan, rent, or permit the use of applicator equipment owned or controlled by that person which does not comply with the requirements described in paragraphs (B)(5) and (B)(6) of this rule, or which has not been thoroughly cleaned in a manner to prevent contamination of a pesticide solution or other formulation by previous use.
(8) Apply pesticide to an area or a crop in such a manner or at such a time that adjacent crops, pasture land, water or other areas will be damaged or contaminated.
(9) Mix, load, or store agricultural pesticides within the perimeter of an agricultural labor camp as defined in section 3733.41 of the Revised Code.
(10) Distribute a restricted-use pesticide to a person who is not:
(a) A licensed pesticide dealer; or
(b) A properly licensed pesticide applicator, unless when making the distribution they receive verification that the ultimate user is a properly licensed pesticide applicator who holds a valid license or certification issued by the state in which the pesticide applicator applies the restricted-use pesticide.
(11) Under authority of division (D) of section 921.16 of the Revised Code, use or cause to be used an ester formulation of 2, 4-D (2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid) within Madison township, Lake county, Ohio.
(12) Apply herbicidal foliage sprays to woody vegetation by aircraft on rights-of-way when the wind velocity exceeds seven miles per hour at eye level.
(13) Drive a moving vehicle while applying an herbicide to roadside vegetation within public right-of-way limits unless the spray is directed by a second person or unless the applicator is using a vehicle equipped with a mounted spray boom which is designed to be operated by the driver.
(14) Apply by aircraft:
(a) Any pesticide without having first obtained licensure for the aerial application pesticide-use category; or
(b) Any rodenticide, avicide, or vertebrate repellent until the proposed application has been jointly approved by the director and by the division of wildlife of the Ohio department of natural resources; the application for such approval shall be submitted to both agencies fourteen days prior to planned treatment and shall include:
(i) The county, township and sections involved;
(ii) A clear description of areas to be treated;
(iii) Inclusive dates of intended operation;
(iv) The name of the pesticide and the formulation to include all active and inert ingredients;
(v) The name of the target pest; and
(vi) The effect which may be expected on non-target species in the area.
(15) Apply or cause to be applied any pesticide that is required to carry a special warning on its label indicating that it is toxic to honey bees, over an area of one-half acre or more in which the crop-plant is in flower unless the owner or caretaker of any apiary located within one-half mile of the treatment site has been notified by the person no less than twenty-four hours in advance of the intended treatment; provided the apiary is registered and identified as required by section 909.02 of the Revised Code, and that the apiary has been posted with the name and telephone number of the owner or responsible caretaker.
(16) Apply pesticides which are hazardous to honey bees at times when pollinating insects are actively working in the target area; however, application of calyx sprays on fruits and other similar applications may be made.
(C) No commercial applicator shall apply fumigants unless the commercial applicator is properly licensed in, and the application is made within, the following pesticide-use categories:
(1) "Soil fumigation" as defined in paragraph (P)(2)(f) of rule 901:5-11-01 of the Administrative Code;
(2) "Fumigation" as defined in paragraph (P)(10)(c) of rule 901:5-11-01 of the Administrative Code; or
(3) "Greenhouse pest control" as defined in paragraph (P)(6)(d) of rule 901:5-11-01 of the Administrative Code.
(D) Pesticide applicators shall:
(1) Provide to trained servicepersons, immediate family members, and subordinate employees working under the pesticide applicator's direct supervision the necessary safety equipment as set forth on the pesticide label or as required by the pesticide being used.
(2) Acquaint trained servicepersons, immediate family members, and subordinate employees working under the pesticide applicator's direct supervision with any special hazards involved with those pesticides with which they might be in contact and instruct them in appropriate precautions to avoid those hazards.
(3) Ensure that trained servicepersons, immediate family members, and subordinate employees working under the pesticide applicator's direct supervision do not apply pesticides in the absence of the supervising pesticide applicator unless the label of the pesticide they are applying is readily available to them at the worksite. The label of the pesticide shall be made available to the director for inspection during the application. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a pesticide applicator shall be present during application of a pesticide by their trained serviceperson, immediate family member or subordinate employee when the pesticide applicator's presence is required by the pesticide label.
(4) Report to the department of agriculture:
(a) By telephone within forty-eight hours after learning of any human illness requiring medical attention resulting from or allegedly resulting from a pesticide used by the pesticide applicator or a trained serviceperson, immediate family member, or subordinate employee working under the pesticide applicator's direct supervision. Such telephone notification shall be followed by a written report within seven calendar days.
(b) By written report within ten calendar days after learning of any property damage in excess of five hundred dollars resulting from or allegedly resulting from a pesticide used by the pesticide applicator or a trained serviceperson, immediate family member, or subordinate employee working under the pesticide applicator's direct supervision.
(5) Not apply a restricted use pesticide whose label requires that notice be given to occupants of nearby properties or that the area to be treated be posted with re-entry times unless those requirements have been met. This requirement is also applicable to all trained service persons, immediate family members, and subordinate employees working under the pesticide applicator's direct supervision.
(6) Provide to each customer and resident of the applied property if requested, or required by the pesticide label, a printed or legibly written statement of the pesticide applied, the amount applied, the date of application, and any other pertinent information as required by the pesticide label. This requirement is also applicable to all trained service persons, immediate family members, and subordinate employees working under the pesticide applicator's direct supervision.
Last updated December 5, 2024 at 8:30 AM
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