Anyone using, or purchasing, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, and applying them with a knapsack sprayer on land. This does not include spraying near watercourses (PA6AW) or operating hand held pesticide injection equipment, which is a separate module PA6INJ. (See changes to safe use of Pesticides NPTC Qualifications)
Changes to safe use of Pesticides NPTC Qualifications
NPTC have introduced changes to the assessment of practical units under the PA6 Award, which came into effect on 1 January 2015. From that date, a person undergoing PA6A training and achieving the PA6A assessment will no longer be qualified to use any spraying application method other than hand-held knapsack and CDA (Controlled Droplet Application). The implications of this change are that PA6 trainees will now be required to take an additional assessment if they require qualification in any of the units 152 – 157 (below), and additional training time to cover these units. There will be additional costs incurred for this training and assessment.
New Qualification Details for PA6
(Pre-requisite -Qualification 021649 – City & Guilds Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides (PA1))
Qualification 0216-54 – City & Guilds Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides using Pedestrian Hand Held Equipment (QCF)
Units:
151: Operating Pedestrian Hand Held Applicators Fitted with Hydraulic Nozzles or Rotary Atomisers to Apply Pesticides to Land (PA6A)
152: Operating Pedestrian Hand Held Applicators fitted with Hydraulic Nozzles or Rotary Atomisers to Apply Pesticides to or Near Water (PA6AW)
153: Operating Pedestrian Hand Held Applicators to apply Pesticide Pellets or Granules to Land (PA6G)
154: Operating Pedestrian Hand Held Applicators to apply Pesticide Pellets or Granules to or near Water (PA6GW)
155: Installing Pesticide Plugs in Tree Stumps (PA6PP)
156: Operating Hand held Pesticide Injection Equipment (PA6INJ)
157: Operating other Hand Held Applicators Requiring Minimal Calibration (PA6MC)
The course Outline
2 days for training – Foundation module + One other Unit (followed by separate assessments (usually within 4 weeks of the training)
Foundation Module (PA1 COMPULSORY): – 1 Day
Introduction & aims
Approved Code of Practice
Storage, mixing & safe use
COSHH & risk assessments
Hazard awareness
Safe disposal, record keeping
Knapsack Sprayer Module (PA6a OPTION): – 1 Day
Site assessment, Risk assessment
Protective equipment, safety procedures
Correct use of the spray equipment
Storage & transport
Further Advice on PA6 AW:
Please double check whether you really need to be doing PA6AW! We tell you this, following the advice from our instructors. There are a couple of reasons: firstly there is a rumour that PA6AW may be withdrawn at some point in the future. Secondly and linked to the first reason, it is important to be aware that using pesticides near water requires you to seek permission from the Environment Agency and this is usually only granted for stem inject or plugs (tree stumps). That said, people do still book on this as their Employers are insisting it is needed.
NPTC Assessments
NPTC Assessments can be pre-arranged and are held once training has been completed. This can be done thorough Lynher Training or any NPTC assessment centre.
The PA1 assessment is computer based, multiple-choice test – this takes approximately 30 mins. Assessments booked through Lynher Training will take place at the end of the first day of training.
Practical assessments (PA6) contain both written and verbal questions. The PA6a assessment takes approximately 1.5 hours.
NPTC test schedules available from http://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemes.aspx?id=2
What should you bring to the course?
• Day 1 – You may find a calculator useful on Day 1. Some nationally recognized or employer issued photo-id.
Other Modules available on request:
• PA6INJ – Operating Hand held Pesticide Injection Equipment
• PA2 – Safe Application of Pesticides Using Self Propelled, Mounted, Trailed Horizontal Boom Sprayers
Tractor Mounted Sprayer Module (PA2 OPTION): – 1 Day
Site assessment, Risk assessment
Tractor driving recap
Protective equipment, safety procedures
Correct use of the spray equipment
Storage & transport
• PA9 – Safe Application of Pesticide Mists, Fogs and Smokes
All trainees must be over 16 years of age, in good health and with reasonable literacy & numeracy skills. Computer literacy requirements are not high and there will be assistance on hand if required – however, if you think you may require assistance with either the written or computer tests you must notify the assessment centre at the time of booking. Persons with certain ailments or on certain medication may not be able to take part in the practical sessions