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Requirements for Pesticide Technicians Pesticide Technicians (803-51) • Pesticide Technicians are allowed to use Restricted Use Pesticides under the direct supervision of a Certified Applicator • To qualify as a Pesticide Technician, you must be at least 18 years of age (some exceptions apply) • Each year the Pesticide Technician must fulfill one of the following requirements: o Attend a Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) approved applicator certification training course o Meet the training requirements for an agricultural handler under Worker Protection Standards (WPS) o Attend a DPNR approved Pesticide Technician Training Program o Have a valid DPNR issued commercial pesticide applicator certification for another category. o Have a valid DPNR-issued private pesticide applicator certification. o Have a valid pesticide applicator certification from another jurisdiction with an EPA-approved certification and training program. • Pesticide Technician Training Program must meet all the following requirements: o The training materials must be presented either orally from written materials or audio visually o The information must be presented in a manner that attendees can understand, and may require the use of a translator o The trainer must be present for the entire training and must respond to attendees' questions o The trainer must be one of the following: ▪ A certified Commercial or Private Applicator by the DPNR ▪ A designated trainer of Certified Applicators by the DPNR ▪ Successfully have completed a pesticide safety train-the-trainer program o The training must meet the minimum standards set by the DPNR (803-51 (d)(5)) o Additional recordkeeping requirements apply for technician training (803-81). Direct Supervision (803 – 52) • A Commercial Applicator must be certified in each category applicable to the supervised use. • Private Applicators may only supervise a technician who is applying pesticides to produce an agriculture commodity on a property that is owned or leased by the Private Applicator or the Private Applicator’s employer. • The Certified Applicator must ensure that the Technician is trained in accordance with the law. Records of this training must be kept by the Certified Applicator or the Pesticides Business's owner or manager. • Relevant safety information, restricted entry intervals, and personal protective equipment (PPE) beyond normal work attire must be provided to the Technician. • The Certified Applicator must ensure that required PPE is clean, in working condition, and is being used properly. • The Certified Applicator must ensure that the Technician has a copy of the full pesticide label at all times during the product use. • The Commercial or Private Applicator must ensure that the technician has been trained within the last 12 months in the safe operation of equipment they will be using when handling pesticides. • The Commercial or Private Applicator must ensure that all equipment is in working order and can be used without risk of a reasonably foreseeable adverse effects to the technician. • The Commercial or Private Applicator must provide each technician with proper instructions specific to the site that will be treated, and specific pesticides being used. • A Commercial Applicator must provide on-site direct supervision when a Pesticide Technician under his supervision: o Engages in the subsurface ground application of termiticides, the surface application of termiticides to exposed soil in basements and crawl spaces, and the placement of termiticide in voids of masonry foundations; o Applies fumigants, except when using fumigants classified as general use pesticides that are applied to in-place utility poles; and o Applies pesticides with a label requiring on-site supervision. • On-site direct supervision by the Private Applicator is required when a Technician applies pesticides with a label requiring on-site supervision. o Individuals under the supervision of Private Applicators shall not use fumigants. • When on-site supervision is required, the Commercial or Private Certified Applicator must be physically present at the application site and within voice contact of the individual being supervised • Off-site direct supervision is allowed when a Technician working under the instruction and control of a Commercial or Private Applicator uses pesticides that do not require on-site supervision. o The Technician must have a way to contact the supervising Certified Applicator immediately. o The Commercial or Private Applicator shall be on the application site within one hour of contact by the Technician o A Certified Applicator cannot provide off-site supervision for more than three locations at the same time