Legislation

The Code of Practice (CoP) provides detailed guidance on how to use pesticides safely. It should be read by all those who use pesticides professionally in all amenity areas.

These include Local Authorities, sport and leisure facilities, industrial and utility sites, highways, railways, airports and forestry. The CoP has a special position in law that means that if you follow the guidance in the code you will be doing enough to keep within the law.

In the CoP (page 71) the various checks to carry out when working with pesticides are listed and for equipment clearly states:

‘Check equipment for applying pesticide to make sure it is in good working order and is working correctly and accurately’

Regular checks, calibration and maintenance of spraying equipment will help reduce the risks of pesticide exposure to the environment, operators and bystanders which are covered by legislation.

Plus there are cost/benefits to properly maintained equipment:

• Optimise efficacy of pesticide use ensuring better and more consistent spray application
  
  
• Minimise input costs by helping to ensure that the quantity of pesticide used is kept to a minimum necessary
  
  
• Minimise input costs (~5%) by ensuring there are no leaks
  
  
• Reduce risks to the operator
  
  
• Reduce costly downtime by preventing breakdowns
  
  
• Increase second hand value of equipment.