stump treatment

[lendahand]

Hey guys, pesticides approved for ameteur use may be used by professional operators without tickets. Fact.

 

And here is the HSE link: Schedule: Commodity Substance: Urea half way down advisory note.

[Matthew Arnold]

We keep records of what herbicides we use and in what strengths and amounts. It can be a pain but it is all neccessary when/if somethings goes wrong and HSE want to check records. It doesn't sound particularly safe but our chemicals are stored in an old fridge. We have a pipe coming out of the top to remove vapours but acts as the perfect bung as well. It is completely separate from our powertool and hand tool container.

[likeitorlumpit]

And here is the HSE link: Schedule: Commodity Substance: Urea half way down advisory note.

 

Now that is interesting

Not what we were told when I did my course.

But

As an employer does that mean I can ask un ticketed (un certified!) staff to carry out chemical application using amateur chemicals. How would I cover myself (duty of care and all that)

This surely makes a mockery of the ticketing

As a pro I am not allowed to use simazine(for example) Water supply pollution issues- but Pathclear contains simazine and is for amateur use-

Whats going on???

What defines an amateur chemical- is it just one you can buy in a supermarket/garden centre or are there other stipulations

Sorry- bleating on but this just goes against everything I previously thought and I'm trying to get my head round this

[Big-Al]

We keep records of what herbicides we use and in what strengths and amounts. It can be a pain but it is all neccessary when/if somethings goes wrong and HSE want to check records. It doesn't sound particularly safe but our chemicals are stored in an old fridge. We have a pipe coming out of the top to remove vapours but acts as the perfect bung as well. It is completely separate from our powertool and hand tool container.

 

Fridge's are quite a popular storage container for chemicals. I know a few people that store like this in their yards.

[lendahand]

Now that is interesting

As an employer does that mean I can ask un ticketed (un certified!) staff to carry out chemical application using amateur chemicals.

Yes you can.

There you have It. HSE words not mine guys.

For instance: SBK is available and more importantly works. In other words any chemical the public can buy over the counter you and your guys can use.

The only limit then, is normal precautions apply, for instance: wear gloves, goggles and suitable clothing, also any other safety advice on the container should be followed. My advice, would be to also have some form of hand cleaner and tell your guy not to eat or drink till he has washed up.

The training guys on the course won't tell you this, it's not in there interest to.

[18 stoner]

This totally goes against what i was taught also.

 

I am fully ticketed, and had a visit 2 years ago from HSE after a report from a neighbour for storing agro chemicals without COSHH.

 

I do not use commercial chemicals any more and told the two HSE guys this, and said I only use salt and SBK now as didnt wan tto be involved with the paperwork just for killing stumps.

 

The reply they gave was that ANY application of pesticides/herbicides in a commercial environment needs COSHH and should be carried out by a licensed operator.

 

Their words, not mine.

[lendahand]

This totally goes against what i was taught also.

 

I am fully ticketed, and had a visit 2 years ago from HSE after a report from a neighbour for storing agro chemicals without COSHH.

 

I do not use commercial chemicals any more and told the two HSE guys this, and said I only use salt and SBK now as didnt wan tto be involved with the paperwork just for killing stumps.

 

The reply they gave was that ANY application of pesticides/herbicides in a commercial environment needs COSHH and should be carried out by a licensed operator.

 

.

Well, you can print off the HSE own web page and kill as many stumps as you like.

And send who you like to do it. Just take the normal precautions you would want to take as a professional anyhow.

[18 stoner]

Yeh, not disagreeing, just cant believe these guys sometimes.

 

We seem to spend our time trying our best to adhere to all the legislation they throw at us but they keep supplying us with constnatly changing requirements and "grey" information, yet those who dont care will still do as they like without being policed.

 

As you can apply something as nasty as SBK without any responsibility, is it all worth bothering with certs I wonder?

[skyhuck]

Personally I would not poison Birch stumps, they tend not to copice IME, I would wait and only treat any growth that did come.

[lendahand]

As you can apply something as nasty as SBK without any responsibility, is it all worth bothering with certs I wonder?

 

Nasty, yeah I agree now I'm not too sure of my facts here, but I think it used to have 245t in it and they took that element out to make it safer. Still strong stuff still. It seems to work well.