Compulsory training in pesticide use - you must be reaccredited every five years
Pesticides can be dangerous if incorrectly applied or managed, especially to people who work with pesticides or are regularly exposed to them. Training in their correct use minimises mistakes being made when using pesticides and is one of the most effective ways of protecting workers who use pesticides regularly, their families, the community, trade and the environment.
Since 1 September 2005 training in the use of pesticides has been compulsory. If you use pesticides in your job or business you must now achieve and maintain a specific level of competency in pesticide use.
Who must be trained?
If you are a farmer, market gardener, flower grower, ground rig operator, parkland or green keeper, landscape gardener, nursery operator, marina operator, wood preservation operator, landlord, or use pesticides on behalf of a local council or government agency; or otherwise use pesticides in your job, you must be trained in pesticide use. Your training must be renewed every five years by completing a short refresher course.
This includes anyone who uses any type of pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, baits, lures and rodenticides (rat poison) in their work.
If you are working as a pest management technician under WorkCover NSW legislation or as an aerial applicator under the Pesticides Act 1999 these training requirements do not apply to you. There are separate training requirements necessary for this work.
What sort of training is needed?
There is a range of training available to suit all types of pesticide users. In most cases the training involves a two-day course, based on the National Rural Production and Amenity Horticulture Training Packages. You can also become qualified by demonstrating to a registered training organisation that you know how to use pesticides in your job or business. (For details of training courses, providers and assessors see Where can I find out more? below).
The Department of Environment and Climate Change strongly encourages people who must be trained to seek training that is appropriate for their level of work and experience. This means people who are working as unsupervised operators/farmers should seek training at Australian Qualifications Framework Level 3 (AQF3). The minimum level of competency in pesticide use required under the Regulation is Australian Qualifications Framework Level 2 (AQF2). Competencies that must be obtained are listed in the notice of approved units of competency (competencyunits.pdf 31kb, acrobat reader required), which was gazetted on 24 December 2003.
People who have language or literacy difficulties and are unable to fulfil the requirements of the AQF3 chemical competencies can be deemed competent at AQF2 if they have successfully demonstrated competence at that level. Major providers of chemical training have agreed to provide training on this basis. More details are available in the notice of approved units of competency.
I only use small quantities of pesticides in my work – do I have to be trained?
You do not need to be trained if you only use small quantities of household pesticides as part of your business or work, provided that you do all of the following:
- you only apply pesticides that are ordinarily used for domestic purposes (e.g. in the home or garden), and
- are widely available to the general public at retail outlets such as supermarkets, and
- you apply the pesticide by hand or by using hand-held equipment, and
- if you use the pesticides outdoors, you use no more than 5 litres/5 kilograms of concentrate or 20 litres/20 kilograms of ready-to-use product, or
- if you use the pesticides indoors you use no more than 1 litre/1 kilogram of concentrate or 5 litres/5 kilograms of ready-to-use product.
What happens if I do not comply with the training laws?
Authorised officers may, at any reasonable time ask for evidence of training. If you are a pesticide user and you are unable to show evidence that you have completed compulsory training in pesticides use and/or you have allowed your training to expire without been reaccredited you risk a $400 fine. Penalties also apply if you engage a person to apply pesticides who does not have the training required by the Pesticides Regulation 1995. Penalties may also apply if you misuse a training qualification.
Where can I find out more?
For more information see:
- details of training courses, providers and assessors
- a copy of the notice of approved units of competency
- answers to questions frequently asked by trainers and pesticide users
- the amended Pesticides Regulation 1995
Educational resources including a DVD and posters about the safe use of pesticides are available in a number of community languages to complement formal training courses.
If you are not sure whether you need to be trained or retrained, or if you have any questions, please contact Environment Line.
Survey of registered training organisations
DECC is conducting a survey of registered training organisations to assist the review of training requirements.