GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES FOR MOST PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS

The following are general safety procedures that should be used for most types of structural pesticide applications:

  1. Applicators must understand how the building ventilation systems work and know how air moves in and out of a building.
  2. For many dwellings, windows are the only source of ventilation so they should be: closed if cross drafts will cause pesticide drift during application be opened afterward to adequately vent the building or rooms of pesticide vapors. In buildings with sealed ventilation systems, building management staff must be available to shut off exhaust or ventilation fans to prevent pesticides moving through the ventilation system to untreated areas.
  3. Spraying ULD fogging or dusting treatments applied in areas where heating systems are located may create a fire hazard. Applicators should ensure that all heating systems that use open flames and/or non grounded fans are shut off to eliminate the fire hazard.
  4. Before a pesticide is used, notification should be provided to people who may be exposed to the pesticide. Some provinces or municipalities have specific notification requirements including content of notices, the size of signs and when they are to be posted.
  5. In general, a written notice should be given to residents who live in or workers who use areas to be treated. Notices should be posted at entrances to areas that may be entered by people who do not receive a written notice. It should remain posted until the appropriate re-entry time has been reached.
  6. Notices should include the treatment date, start time and completion time, re-entry information, a contact person’s telephone number for additional information and other appropriate product specific precautions.
  7. Know how ventilation systems affect applications and how to adequately vent a building following treatments.
  8. Know that heating systems may cause a fire hazard and what should be done to prevent the hazard.
  9. Know how to notify building occupants and the public prior to treatments. 
  10. Before treatment with sprays, food (human and pet), children’s toys and other personal use items such as clothes, soaps and magazines should be removed from the treatment area.
  1. Determine and use required and safe re-entry times. The re-entry time is the amount of time that people must stay out of treated areas. The concern over re-entry is the exposure of people to pesticides through:
  • inhalation or ocular exposure of pesticide vapors, dusts or mists,
  • dermal exposure by touching pesticide residues on treated surfaces, or,
  • ingestion when contaminated food has been eaten. Contamination could occur during the application (when unprotected food absorbs pesticides) or contaminated when individuals contact contaminated surfaces with their hands then handle food.
  1. Label instructions for re-entry vary. Some give specific times such as no re-entry before 4 hours, some indicate that treated surfaces are not to be contacted until a pesticide spray has dried. Drying time depends on factors such as the amount of ventilation, the temperature and humidity. In cases where re-entry intervals have not been specified on the label, the manufacturer should be contacted to provide re-entry instructions.
  1. Ensure also that any requirements or guidelines are followed for re-entry of workers into treated areas set by provincial authorities (e.g., occupational health authorities). Generally re-entry after treatment with any pesticide releasing vapors should only be after substantial ventilation of rooms with fresh air.
  1. Ensure that people are warned to keep themselves and pets away from the treatment area during treatment and for the required re-entry time. Cover aquariums and plants as may be necessary.
  1. Ensure doors are locked and/or signs posted to keep people out until re-entry is allowed. Pesticide sprays must not be mixed in sinks or near floor drains or in carpeted areas, but rather in areas where spills can be contained and cleaned up appropriately.
  2. Whenever possible, pesticides should not be applied directly to food preparation surfaces. If they are sprayed, all food must be removed prior to the application and written notice should be given to residents or staff to clean surfaces with soap and water while wearing chemical resistant gloves, before using again for food preparation.
  3. Follow label precautions for respirators – if not specific, a full face canister respirator should be worn if the applicator is required to enter a spray cloud (instead of avoiding the spray cloud by releasing the spray as the applicator moves toward the exit)