Pesticide Safety Program

Safe and effective pest management starts with the right knowledge, practices and resources. The Pesticide Safety Program provides guidance and resources for employees who apply pesticides in agricultural and non-agricultural settings and those entering treated fields.

Pesticide Safety Program

The Pesticide Safety program provides guidance and resources for employees who apply pesticides in:

agricultural (e.g., fields, greenhouses) settings
non-agricultural (e.g., landscape, buildings) settings; and
those entering treated fields

The program emphasizes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and supports the safe, compliant, and effective use of pesticides in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and the UC Presidential Policy on IPM (UC policy).

For questions regarding UC policy application, website content, or support implementing regulatory or policy requirements, email [email protected].

Integrated Pest Management

IPM is a long-term, environmentally friendly approach to controlling pests while minimizing harm to people, beneficial organisms, non-target organisms, and the environment. It combines controls such as biological, habitat management, mechanical/physical, cultural, chemical and use of resistant plant varieties. Chemical control (pesticide) is used only when monitoring shows action is necessary and is applied carefully to target specific pests. IPM elements include:

Monitor- Identify pest. Assess pest numbers and damage.
Evaluate- Is the pest causing the damage? Is action needed?
Prevent- Consider prevention methods (ex. Resistant plants, barriers, seal cracks). Develop guidelines for when management action is needed.
Action- Use combination of biological, cultural, physical//mechanical and chemical tools to reduce pest count.
Monitor- Continue monitoring pest population. Evaluate effectiveness of action taken. Document the findings.

UC IPM Policy

The UC IPM policy mandates implementing ecosystem-based pest management, minimizing pesticide reliance, and ensuring safety and legal compliance. Responsibilities span from systemwide oversight to local UC committees, coordinators, supervisors, and contractor. Key elements with a focus on prevention, ecosystem health and transparency across UC locations, include:

Policy Coverage- Who is covered under the policy and who is exempt?

The Policy covers all pest management activities at all University-owned or operated locations, except privately owned residences on university property with the following exemptions:

Research use
Antimicrobials use (e.g., disinfectants, pool treatments, drinking water treatment)
Sterilization of medical products and equipment

Pesticide Hazard Tiering System and Pesticide Hazard Tier List

The UC Systemwide Pesticide Oversight Committee (SPOC) established and will maintain the Pesticide Hazard Tier System to assess the hazards of each pesticide used at UC based on toxicological and environmental factors and classify pesticides into three hazard tiers:

Red — High Risk
Yellow — Medium Risk
Green — Low Risk

The Tier System and Hazard Tier List can be viewed on the UCOP SPOC webpage.

Systemwide Pesticide Use Authorization (PUA) Platform

Under the UC Presidential Policy on IPM, all pesticides- excluding those used for research, hygienic antimicrobial purposes, or sterilization of medical products must undergo hazard tiering and receive approval from the UC Davis Pesticide Use Oversight Committee (PUOC) before use on university‑owned or operated properties. All Pesticide Use Authorization (PUA) requests and reporting must be submitted through the Risk and Safety Solutions PUA platform. Green and yellow tier pesticides are auto approved but red tier products must be reviewed and approved by the PUOC.

At UC Davis, applications by aircraft must also comply with requirements under Policy and Procedure Manual (PPM) 290-95 which requires prior written approval from the Dean of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and from the Environmental Health & Safety Director.

IPM Program, Plan, Committee, and Coordinator

The IPM Program elements include establishment of an IPM Committee, designation of an IPM Coordinator and development of an IPM Plan. The Committee is called the Pesticide Use Oversight Committee and the Safety Services’ EH&S Specialist responsible for Pesticide Safety serves as the IPM Coordinator.

UC Notice of Planned Pesticide Applications

Before any pesticide application, departments must notify affected UC community members when potential exposure to treated areas may occur. Notices may be issued through the Safety Services UC Notice portal or via department-developed notification process and must be provided at least 24 hours in advance. This UC Notice is separate from regulatory notification requirements, and applicators are responsible for complying with both.

Form: UC Notice of Planned Pesticide Application- Application Supervisors and Handlers-use this form to report planned pesticide applications at least 24 hours in advance.
UC Notice of Planned Pesticide Application Log- Log lists notices for planned applications occurring in the next 24 hours. This log meets the requirements of notifying UC community members who may be potentially impacted by the application. Access is limited to community members with UCD emails addresses.

Required Training, Certification and Licensure

In addition to regulatory required training, handlers must also complete the following policy training requirements in the UC Learning Center:

Employees who perform the responsibilities of an Application Supervisor, as defined by the UC Policy, for yellow and red tier pesticides must possess a Qualified Applicator Certificate or License.

FAQ

UC Office of the President compiled a list of frequently asked questions on the UC IPM Program. Questions include:

Which areas are covered under the UC policy? (#4)
The Presidential Policy on IPM applies to all UC locations, including academic campuses, health systems, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Natural Reserve System, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and any other UC-owned or operated facilities, including arrangements where UC is either the lessor or lessee (with the exception of privately owned residences on UC property).
What constitutes research use exemption? (11)
Pesticide use qualifies as “research use” under the University of California’s Presidential Policy on IPM exemption if it is integral to a scientific experiment, with clear objectives and data collection. The research does not need to focus exclusively on the pesticide itself.
Who needs to be a certified/licensed applicator at UC? (#19)
The local IPM Committees must include at least one certified/licensed applicator whether they are QAC or QAL. An individual with a Pest Control Advisor (PCA) License also meets this requirement. In addition, UC employees who use yellow- or red-tier pesticides are required either to have a QAC or QAL or have these activities supervised by a UC employee who has a QAL or QAC. In the case of yellow-tier pesticides, the certified/licensed applicator must have direct contact with the handler (e.g., radio or cell phone communication). For the red-tier pesticides, the certified/licensed applicator must have direct visual contact with the handler.

UC Davis-specific

The UC policy applies to my department? What do I need to do?
- Answer: Email [email protected] and request onboarding support from the IPM Coordinator. The coordinator will then work with Risk and Safety Solutions to create the department group and provide access to the PUA system.
I am part of a lab and completed lab safety fundamental training. Do I still need to complete Hazard Communication training too?
- Answer: No. UC Davis accepts lab safety fundamental training as an acceptable alternative to Hazard Communication training.
Who can provide pesticide handler and fieldworker training?
- Answer: 3 CCR 6724(f) requires that only “qualified trainers” can provide CDPR pesticide handler and fieldworker training. Qualified trainers include individuals who possess a QAC/QAL or DPR approved Train the Trainer certificate.