Resources

Educational Materials: Pesticide Safety Publications

UC IPM, through publications and videos, reaches employers and workers throughout the state with important pesticide safety information.

How to order

These printed publications are available for purchase and some are available free in PDF. See ordering information or order online from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) catalog.

Pesticide Safety: A Reference Manual for Private Applicators, 2nd edition

This manual is a required study guide for the Private Applicator Certification examination. All California farm owners, managers, and employees involved with the use of pesticides should have it. It covers pesticide labels, mixing and applying pesticides, hazards of pesticide use, and pesticide emergencies. It also includes review questions, appendices, a glossary, and an index.
Publ. 3383, 120 pp., $7.00.

The Pesticide Application Compendium

This series, originally written for professionals trying to meet California's tough applicator licensing requirements, belongs on the bookshelves of those who use pesticides, supervise their use, or instruct others in the proper use of pesticides. All types of protective equipment and application procedures are described and illustrated. Hundreds of photographs, drawings, and tables, created especially for each book, help to summarize the ideas presented in the text.

Volume 2: Residential, Industrial, and Institutional Pest Control, 2nd edition This volume focuses on managing structural pests, food pests, fabric pests, rodents, birds, and weeds. It is a valuable resource for applicator and structural pest exam preparation and a helpful reference for anyone trying to solve institutional or household pest problems—from pest control operators to building managers and homeowners. The second edition has been completely revised and now contains review questions and answers to help readers study for the exam. Publ. 3334, 242 pp., $30.00.

Volume 3: Wood Preservation This volume covers safe and effective methods for reducing reliance on wood preservations in situations ranging from treatment of utility poles and railroad ties to decks, fences, boats, and other wood structures. This book presents a clear discussion of alternatives to chemical treatments and includes sections on major pest species. Publ. 3335, 92 pp., $15.00.

Volume 4: Forest and Right-of-Way Pest Control This volume is a comprehensive guide to using pesticides and other pest control methods in forest and right-of-way situations. It is an extremely useful reference for anyone responsible for managing pests in forests, tree nurseries, and Christmas tree plantations or along roads, railways, utility rights-of-way, bike paths, and hiking trails. This volume also is the official study guide for the Forest and Right-of-way categories of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's Qualified Applicator Certificate and Licensing examinations. More than 200 photos and drawings aid in identifying pests and demonstrating pest management problems and solutions. Publ. 3336, 248 pp., $30.00.

Volume 5: Aquatic Pest Control This easy-to-use reference manual and study guide covers diverse aquatic environments, including natural marshes, wetlands, and deltas; irrigation canals and levees; ornamental ponds in parks and golf courses; hatcheries and recreational waters; and municipal water supplies and drinking water reservoirs. Chapters include information on identifying weeds in the aquatic environment; methods of controlling aquatic weeds; identifying and controlling other pests in the aquatic environment; laws regulating aquatic environments, pesticide use, and protected species; selecting and calibrating aquatic herbicide application equipment; and pesticide safety. The manual includes 54 drawings, more than 100 photographs, and a glossary. Publ. 3337, 168 pp., $30.00.

Jorge's New Job: Getting Tested for Cholinesterase/Un nuevo trabajo para Jorge: El análisis de la colinesterasa

This excellent training tool is an easy-to-read fotonovela (story-picture format) with back-to-back English and Spanish versions in one booklet. It explains the importance of cholinesterase testing for pesticide handlers who work with certain kinds of insecticides and addresses some common questions and misconceptions. This is a valuable tool for workers, employers, growers, commercial applicators, medical clinic staff, agricultural commissioners, and educators. A companion video is available in English, Spanish, and English/Spanish.
Publ. 21507, in English/Spanish, 36 pp., $4.00.

WPS Training for Fieldworkers: Teaching Workers How to Protect Themselves from Pesticide Hazards in the Workplace (836 KB, PDF)

This 91-page instructor's manual is designed to be used with the video, Protecting Yourself From Pesticide Hazards in the Workplace. The manual provides an instructor with ideas and examples of interactive activities to increase comprehension of the pesticide-related workplace hazards and ways workers can avoid these hazards. The video and accompanying activities cover all the points that must be addressed when conducting Worker Protection Standard (WPS) training for fieldworkers. Printing this PDF file will provide you with a camera-ready version of the booklet, suitable for copying. Both the manual and video are public-domain resources. Copies of the video have been provided to each state pesticide regulatory agency and Cooperative Extension Service pesticide applicator training coordinators.

Reducing Pesticide Risks: An Interactive Program for Training Pesticide Handlers (2.8 MB, PDF)

This 113-page instructor's manual is designed to be used with the video, Reducing Pesticide Risks: An Interactive Program for Training Pesticide Handlers. This is a five-episode story about a farm owner and a recently hired employee. It portrays their discussions on pesticide illnesses and injuries. Topics include how to protect yourself when you handle pesticides, how to safely handle pesticides and their containers, how to apply pesticides safely, and how to clean up after handling pesticides. Copies of this public-domain video are available from each state pesticide regulatory agency and Cooperative Extension Service pesticide applicator training coordinators.

Pesticide Safety for Small Farms: A Grower's Guide to Pesticide Safety

This publication offers the most current pesticide safety information for small farm operators and meets all federal and state pesticide regulations and procedures. It includes 50 drawings to help illustrate the important safety points when handling, mixing, and applying pesticides. Videos are available in English, Spanish, Ilokano, Lao, and Hmong. Audio tapes in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Lao are also available.
Publ. 21555 (English), 32 pp., $5.00
Publ. 21557 (Hmong), 28 pp., $5.00.
Publ. 21558 (Cambodian), 28 pp., $5.00.

Sewer Line Root Control

This publication provides information for those who use or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides for controlling roots in sewer lines. This is the recommended study guide for the Sewer Line Root Control category of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's (DPR) Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) or Qualified Applicator License (QAL) examinations. Order from DPR. (64 KB, PDF).

PDF: You need a PDF reader, such as Acrobat Reader version 5 or later, to view or print this PDF. If no reader is installed on your computer, you can download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

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