Pesticides Policy

Effective: September 2000
Reviewed: June 2023
Revised:  June 2017
Signature/Position: Vice-President, Finance and Operations

Applicable Legislation:

Pest Control Products Act, S.C. 2002, c.28
Pesticides Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.11
O.Reg.914/90, General Regulation
Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations, R.R.O. 1990, c.D.1

Applicability:

This policy applies to all University of Guelph employees (staff, faculty) and students whose work and/or academic activities require them to handle or conduct work associated with pesticides (pesticide applicators).

Policy Statements

1. All University pesticide applicators who apply pesticides in the environment, for example, but not limited to, field, landscape, and large-scale greenhouse operations, shall be licensed and trained in accordance with prescribed requirements of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
2. All University of Guelph researchers (which may include employees and students) who utilize pesticides in laboratory settings, including small-scale greenhouse applications shall be certified, licensed and/or trained in accordance with prescribed requirements of the MECP or University laboratory safety practices as applicable to the work.
3. Pesticide applicators shall procure, store and use only those pesticides from the classes for which they are authorized. Pesticide class descriptions are found at the MECP website.
4. Supervisors and pesticides applicators shall use the pesticides with the lowest toxicity, as appropriate to the situation and apply such that the application is at the minimum effective rate.
5. Experimental or unregistered pesticides used in research, which are sourced from third party suppliers, shall not be procured, stored or used unless a Material Safety Data Sheet has been sourced and made available by the researcher.
6. All pesticide containers must be properly stored and labeled and Material Safety Data Sheets must be available.
7. University of Guelph researchers developing pesticides shall communicate anticipated hazards to team members and check that reasonable precautions are taken.
8. No person shall use a pesticide that has been de-listed by the Government of Ontario or the Government of Canada unless in conjunction with an approved research program.
9. Pesticide applicators performing land exterminations shall give public notice by means of warning placards, as appropriate.
10. Employees responsible for pesticides shall promptly notify Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) of any incident involving fire, accident, theft or unplanned release with potential for human impact or environmental impairment. EHS personnel shall notify the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as appropriate.
11. Dedicated pesticide storage facilities shall be lockable, cool and dry (to prevent product breakdown or inactivation), ventilated to the outside, and posted with warning signs as prescribed by O. Reg. 63/09 General Regulation. Spill kits, with appropriate products, shall be available at all storage facilities.
12. Supervisors shall audit dedicated pesticide storage facilities and submit findings to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) annually by completing the Pesticide Storage Room Safety form, found under EHS Forms.
13. Pesticides shall be stored in their original, labelled containers and stored appropriately (e.g. separated on shelves, using secondary containment, as appropriate). Containers shall be tagged to indicate the name of the owner and the date of acquisition.
14. Pesticides applicators utilizing organophosphate or carbamate pesticides shall inform Occupational Health and Wellness and are required to participate in the occupational health surveillance program.