Pesticide Technician

Job Description & Employment Terms

Pesticide Technician

DEPARTMENT: Course & Grounds JOB TITLE: Pesticide Technician

REPORTS TO: Superintendent & Assistant Superintendent

JOB TYPE: Non-Exempt

BASIC FUNCTION: Under the direction of the Superintendent, the Pesticide Technician is responsible for all aspects of the storage, mixing, application and cleanup of all chemicals and fertilizers. Application requires the competent operation of equipment that is powered or handheld, may be ridden or pedestrian and used for liquid or solids dispersal.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintains a clean and organized chemical storage facility and mixing area.
• Maintains chemical and fertilizer distribution equipment in clean and working order.
• Understands and implements all pertinent safety precautions and directions as noted on any label, mandated by any government agency, or given by the Superintendent.
• Is responsible for reading and interpreting any chemical or fertilizer label to ensure proper dosing, mixing, and application.
• Exactly measures out and mixes chemicals/fertilizers accordingly.
• Ensure proper operation of application equipment immediately prior to actual use.
• Applies chemicals/fertilizers according to label directions.
• Monitors application procedure for any problems and immediately resolves and reports all issues to the Superintendent.
• Cleans all application equipment using a triple rinse and spray procedure.
• Disposes of rubbish and containers by triple rinsing any residue into spray solution and then destroying containers in a proper manner.
• Complete any application record keeping as required.
• Keeps track of inventory levels and reports chemicals falling below one application amounts to Superintendent.
• Calibrates and monitors all distribution equipment to approved specifications.
• Calculates all chemical usage amounts prior to handling.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Services and repairs all chemical/fertilizer handling and distribution equipment.
• Monitors pest pressures in the field and report them to the Superintendent.
• Maintains a monthly inventory of stock on hand.
• Stores incoming stock accordingly.
• Maintains a daily log of work activity.
• Maintains a file of current pesticide labels in the Superintendent’s office.
• Communicates with the Superintendent daily on all pesticide activities and issues.
• Performs all duties and responsibilities of the Laborer and Operator position.
• Must be familiar with all HIOSH and SDS policies that pertain to chemicals and fertilizers that are handled on a regular basis.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS:

• This position requires reading, writing and speaking in English; reading, interpreting and understanding chemical and fertilizer labels, technical bulletins, and government regulations; doing addition, subtraction, multiplication; computing percentages, ratios, fractions, decimals and algebra; understanding, converting and calculating values in any unit of measure both standard and metric; using a calculator; writing reports; filling out records; understanding equipment operator manuals; good eye and hand coordination; driving automatic or standard transmission; driving or walking in straight and proportionately curved lines; independently retaining and carrying out instructions in written or oral form; and communicating issues, results and concerns.
• Education – Must have a high school diploma or equivalent GED (general education degree) and must have 1 year of experience on a golf course maintenance staff. Must possess or obtain within six months of acquiring the position a State of Hawaii Pesticide License Category 3 and must always upkeep this license.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work will predominately be done outdoors.
• Pesticide work will at times require the use of personal protective equipment such as rubber gloves, eye protection and a respirator.
• Medical clearance for respirator use will be done yearly, along with annual respirator fit testing and blood cholinesterase.
• Must be available for work from 5:30 a.m. until complete. Monday – Friday and from 5:30 a.m. until complete one day of the weekend to be determined by management.
• Additional workdays and time will be required on occasion and for Holidays.
• This position requires regular and predictable full-time attendance.

MENTAL DEMANDS: This position requires a mindfulness for safety, planning and methodical execution, alertness, awareness, anticipation, cooperation, attention to detail, initiative, memory retention, taking responsibility for application execution, common sense and self-evaluation and correction.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While doing this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit and walk; talk, smell and hear. The employee is required to reach with arms and hands, climb and balance; and regularly lift, push and pull sixty pounds. The employee must meet vision requirements of close, distant, color, peripheral and depth perception. The employee must be clean shaven when required to wear a respirator

WORK ENVIRONMENT: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions, chemicals and fertilizers, odors and dust, moving mechanical parts, vibration, hazards inherent to golf courses such as flying golf balls and elevated noise levels. When required, duties will be performed while wearing protective equipment like a respirator, eye protection, rubber gloves and boots.