Agricultural tasks must be conducted with the safety of the worker as the paramount guiding factor. This is no more true than in pesticide application on dedicated energy crops. Managers must evaluate each activity and ask themselves an appropriate series of questions before they get to the field. My earlier post began the discussion by stressing the importance of reading the pesticide label and MSDS sheet. In this post, we will discuss the remaining four questions for evaluating pesticide application operations.

The third question a manager or applicator should ask  is if the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) being worn to handle and apply this product? This information comes directly from the product label. It is important that you explain and/or understand the importance of wearing the appropriate PPE. Managers must make sure that the required PPE is available to those working with the products. Unfortunately, these products are not always the most comfortable pieces of clothing to wear, but if you considering not wearing a required piece of equipment, think about the possible long-term consequences of avoiding a minor temporary discomfort.

Fourth, can the products be handled and mixed without unnecessary risk? The ladder is of particular concern in this scenario, it is important that there is always a spotter present and the ladder is on an even surface. The stature of the handler should also be considered in this situation, meaning, can this person safely keep their balance while lifting the heavy jug to pour in the tank? This might be a time where you have to take a minute and make some changes. If the ground is uneven, take time to move the truck where it is level, or if you see the handler struggling then trade places with them. Paying attention to the small details can make all the difference between someone getting hurt and an efficient day in the field.

Lastly, is there any risk of harming unintended people, plants, or animals around me? A good applicator is always aware of his/her surroundings. Not giving this question its due attention can be more costly and more deadly than all other considerations combined. For example, you are spraying a broad spectrum herbicide application on your crop that is next to a residential area. You don’t take into consideration that the wind is blowing 20 mph and there is a high potential for drift into the neighborhood. Subsequently, you kill the majority of the yards in the neighborhood, and a 50 year old heirloom rosebush. The neighborhood just decided they would file a lawsuit. This kind of situation happens every day. It is extremely important that we respect the consequences our actions can have if we do not go through a deliberate thought process every time the equipment enters the field.

At Genera Energy, we believe that safe utilization of pesticides is an important skill for all of our biomass supply chain employees. We maintain a culture of safety in our team. Our safety leads to more efficient and economical biomass supply solutions. Contact us today to see how we can help with your biomass needs.

By Lucas Graham, Feedstock Production and Supply Manager