Source: UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA submitted to
FY2012 PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM CA (UC)
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0230690
Grant No.
2012-48679-20219
Project No.
CALN-SW-ADM-7904-OG
Proposal No.
2012-03483
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
PSEP
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2012
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2013
Grant Year
2012
Project Director
Al-Khatib, K.
Recipient Organization
UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA
1111 FRANKLIN STREET, 6TH FLOOR
OAKLAND,CA 94607-5201
Performing Department
Cooperative Extension
Non Technical Summary
Handling pesticides requires special skills and responsibilities. It is an important occupation on its own and a necessary part of many other jobs. People handling pesticides need to recognize their hazards and how to avoid these, plus be familiar with all local, state, and federal laws that regulate the sale, use, storage, transportation, application, and disposal of pesticides. Uses of many pesticides require certification and to meet this requirement, we will develop knowledge expectations and study materials related to pesticide safety, plus deliver pesticide safety information through newsletters, presentations, and the web as a means of providing continuing education for pesticide applicators.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
7235220302050%
7115220302025%
1335220302025%
Knowledge Area
133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation; 711 - Ensure Food Products Free of Harmful Chemicals, Including Residues from Agricultural and Other Sources; 723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
5220 - Pesticides;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The broad purpose of the California Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) is to promote quality pesticide safety education, for both professionals and nonprofessionals. The goal of this proposal is to help private and commercial applicators meet the initial and continuing standards of certification to apply restricted use pesticides. Our objectives are to coordinate applicator training with Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), California's State Lead Agency, and to increase opportunities for California applicators to receive pesticide safety training. Outputs are knowledge expectations for licensing commercial applicators, training materials, and training workshops.
Project Methods
To meet the first objective we will meet quarterly with DPR to discuss pesticide program needs, coordinate planning of pesticide applicator training, and review program goals and accomplishments. In addition, DPR personnel will participate in advisory committees that are charged with oversight of specific educational programs or products. To increase opportunities for applicator training, the PSEP coordinator will lead development of pesticide safety educational programs and products, working with a wide variety of organizations. We will deliver pesticide safety information through presentations, Web-based publications, newsletters, and other means. The team will update "The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides", the primary study guide for the basic principles exam for qualified applicators.

Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audience is private and commercial pesticide applicators and those individuals studying to become private or commercial pesticide applicators. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The team increased opportunities for pesticide training for California qualified applicators by coordinating programs with UC Cooperative Extension advisors, PAPA (Pesticide Applicators Professional Association) and other organizations that traditionally provide training. The Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator gave presentations on pesticide safety to 350 private and commercial pesticide applicators. In addition, University of California personnel carried out pesticide safety training for 17,114 commercial applicators and 5,742 private applicators recertifying or relicensing, and those taking their exams for a new license. The team also delivered information through the Web, newsletters and email requests for information. Continuing education units are offered for 5 different online training classes on our website. 464 students took these courses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We have provided outreach to private and commercial pesticide applicators in California via in-person trainings, printed and on-line study materials, the UC IPM webpage (ipm.ucanr.edu), pest management newsletters, and email exchanges. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The UC IPM PSEP team coordinated applicator training planning with California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). They met quarterly with personnel from the Pest Management and Licensing Branch to discuss pesticide program needs, coordinate planning of pesticide applicator training, and review program goals and accomplishments. CDPR personnel participated in advisory committees that are charged with oversight of specific educational programs or products under development. The team has completed the revision and update of The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides, the study manual for the basic principles exam required for a qualified applicator license or certificate, as well as the plant agriculture category study materials. The materials were revised and peer reviewed by a group of experts from UC, DPR, agricultural commissioners, applicators, pesticide industry and others. The knowledge expectations developed for the basic principles and plant agricultural categories guided the study material content. They also guided exam question, which the team has begun developing for both the basic principles exam, and the plant agricultural category exam. Funding from this grant provided a portion of the Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator’s salary to do these activities. It also helped leverage other grant and contract money to work on these and related projects.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Strand, J.F. 2012-13. Quarterly progress reports to Department of Pesticide Regulation.