Chapter 18: Professionalism and Stewardship

Professionalism

One working definition of professionalism is demonstrating the skill, good judgment, and polite behavior expected from a person who is trained to do a job well. It's expected of certified applicators because your work has the potential to cause significant harm. Pesticide use can be a source of public controversy and worry even when you follow all the safe and legal practices, and you'll sometimes work in sensitive areas that require managing complex considerations from customers, neighbors, and others. A key judgment call follows: sometimes a situation calls for more caution than the label — which is the law — requires, and it's up to you to exercise that caution using your best judgment and high standards of professionalism. How you handle yourself leaves an impression, and a good impression can help alleviate concerns about pesticide use and reduce negative public views.

Supervising noncertified applicators

Under FIFRA, a certified applicator may directly supervise noncertified applicators unless the product label or state law prohibits it. The definition here is precise and is a classic exam trap: direct supervision means the application is made by a competent person acting under the instructions and control of a certified applicator — not necessarily by the certified applicator personally. Just as important, if you supervise a noncertified applicator and that person makes a mistake, you are legally responsible. With that liability come specific duties. You must explain the applicable federal, state, and local supervisory requirements (including any label requirements for using RUPs by noncertified applicators); provide the required training and maintain training records for a minimum of two years; be available for immediate communication (and note that some labels and states require on-site supervision); provide site- and product-specific instructions along with access to product labeling at all times during use; provide all information in a manner the noncertified applicator can understand; and provide the correct PPE for that pesticide, ensure it's in good condition, and ensure it's worn.

Knowledge and communication

Good knowledge does double duty: applicators with a solid working knowledge can make good pest management choices and also explain the pesticides they use clearly and understandably. You should also know the tools of your profession, because the better you know your equipment, the better you keep it working and make correct applications. When it comes to talking with the public, the guidance is direct: use simple, direct language rather than technical jargon. You communicate better when you listen politely to public concerns, do not avoid a concerned person's questions, try to understand conflicting viewpoints, speak clearly and sincerely, avoid poorly chosen or less than honest statements, and provide the facts. A subtle but important point about safety: avoid absolute terms, because chemicals are not simply "toxic" or "non-toxic" — the amount of exposure also determines the risk. Open and honest communication builds trust, and a positive, open, and professional attitude toward people asking questions can reduce fear and discomfort.

Professional ethics

A professional demonstrates ethical behavior in all aspects of work, which the chapter defines concretely as not taking shortcuts that might harm your customers, the public, or the environment. You should offer honest and knowledgeable advice, keeping the best interests of others in mind. And Integrated Pest Management is part of your professional training because it helps you make sound pest management decisions, apply pesticides only when needed, and protect sensitive sites from harm.

Stewardship

Stewardship means taking care of something and taking responsibility for it. To be a good steward of pesticides, applicators need to minimize the risks while maximizing the benefits of their use. Concretely, appropriate stewardship includes following all label and labeling instructions and precautions, taking steps to avoid mishaps that could harm people or the environment, and taking responsibility for pesticide products from the point of purchase until final disposal. Several stewardship pieces repeat earlier chapters but are worth emphasizing.

Chemical security: lock storage facilities when not in use, keep the storage area accessible only to authorized employees, and consider security lighting and an alarm system, which protect against theft or damage and prevent pesticides from being misused. Many states require warning signs on storage entrances, and they're a good idea even where not required.

Safety communication: private applicators must be able to inform agricultural workers and handlers about pesticide exposures and risks and make sure they have proper training (the Worker Protection Standard, from Chapter 1). You must present safety training in a way noncertified applicators can understand, recognizing that cultural and language differences may pose substantial barriers. It's the certified applicator or trainer's job to make sure noncertified applicators feel comfortable asking for help, direction, or clarification — because if they aren't, they might make mistakes that at best cause ineffective treatment and at worst cause harm. Taking these communication requirements seriously reduces the risk of accidents that could cause environmental damage, serious injury, and a visit from the regulators.

Environmental harm and resistance: follow all label and other guidelines to reduce harm to water, wildlife, and other aspects of the environment. This is good stewardship of both the environment and the pesticides themselves, because when pesticides cause health and environmental issues from misuse, regulatory actions often restrict the use of certain pesticides. And to keep pesticides working, use resistance-management practices (Chapter 11) to delay resistance and keep these tools from becoming ineffective.

Your responsibilities

The manual's overriding goal is to prepare you to be a certified applicator responsible for protecting yourself, coworkers, the community, and the environment. It is always your responsibility to understand and follow the label and all federal, state, and local rules, and you're responsible for the product from the moment of purchase until proper disposal. The closing checklist of duties is worth reading in full, but the headline items are to: identify pests and evaluate the problem (remembering that pesticides aren't always the best option — use IPM); choose the most appropriate pesticide while weighing environmental impact and safety; thoroughly read the label; accurately measure, mix, and apply per label; inspect, maintain, and calibrate equipment to prevent leaks and spills; minimize drift, runoff, water contamination, and harm to nontarget organisms; know when you're near sensitive areas and ensure you don't harm endangered species or their habitat; wear PPE, manage exposure, and post warning signs; recognize poisoning symptoms and give first aid; keep detailed records (type, rates, date, location, weather); be prepared for spills and accidents; dispose of containers and unused product per regulations; answer public questions; and stay current through ongoing training.

How to study this chapter

1. Know the EPA split (professionalism = commercial, stewardship = private) and that the concepts are essentially the same and apply to both.
2. Memorize the two definitions: professionalism (skill, judgment, polite behavior of a trained person) and stewardship (take care of and take responsibility for, purchase to disposal).
3. Nail the direct-supervision definition — a competent person under the certified applicator's instructions and control, not the certified applicator personally — and that the supervisor is legally responsible for the supervisee's mistakes.
4. Lock in the supervisor specifics, especially training records kept a minimum of two years and immediate communication (sometimes on-site).
5. For communication, remember simple language over jargon and avoid absolute terms (dose determines risk).
6. Recall the chemical-security basics: lock it, authorized access only, lighting/alarm, warning signs.
7. Understand the stewardship logic that misuse leads to regulatory restrictions, so good practice protects the tools.
8. Be able to run through the responsibility checklist — it's a summary of the whole manual, and it's fair game on the exam.