School Pesticide Application Practices
School Pesticide Rules in Ohio: Keeping Your Kids Safe
Are you worried about the use of pesticides in your child's school? Oh, come on! We all care about keeping our young ones safe, right? Well, Ohio has got your back with its strict rules when it comes to pesticide application in K-12 school classroom buildings.
Figure 1. Ohio pesticide rules: Protecting your kid's sanctuary
Before diving into the nitty-gritty, let's clarify one thing: these rules aim to minimize the risk of pesticide exposure for your little ones and staff. And yes, you read that right; we're talking about cockroaches, wasps, rodents, and other unwanted critters.
Wait, what? Pesticides around my kid's classroom?
Chill, dude! Don't panic; the regulations are in place. Here's what you need to know:
- School Hours Applications
When the bell rings, the rules get serious. Applications during school hours require restricted entry and posting. No kids or staff (other than the pesticide applicator or necessary staff) may enter the treatment area during the application and for at least four hours after the treatment-unless the label requires a longer interval.
- Lower Exposure Potential Applications
Some products with a lower potential risk of exposure can be applied during school hours, without posting or restricted entry. These products may include:
- Manufactured paste or gel bait
- Paraffin-based rodent control products placed in industry-identified, tamper-resistant bait stations
- Termite-baiting stations
- Rodenticides in wall voids or other inaccessible areas
- Dusts in unoccupied areas of the building
- Disinfectants, sanitizers, germicides, and antimicrobial agents
- Off-School Hours Applications
Applications outside of school hours don't have any additional requirements, as long as they follow the pesticide label.
But what about prior notifications and contact persons?
School districts are required to establish a prior-notification policy for pesticide applications. They can determine the method of notification, such as email or list-serves. Records must be kept to demonstrate that the notifications were made according to the policy developed by the individual school district.
A school employee must be designated as the contact person for pesticide applications. The school contact person maintains the pesticide-application information required for notification and documentation that prior notifications were sent to the persons who had requested them.
So, who's doing the applications, and are they licensed?
Anyone making structural applications of pesticides in/around a school building must be licensed, or they must be a trained serviceperson working under the direct supervision of a licensed applicator. However, lawn applications to control pests of turf or landscape don't fall under these rules.
Lay off the lawncare applications too, yeah?
While the pesticide use in school rules don't cover applications to control weeds or other pests around schools, Ohio law still has notification requirements for lawncare applications.
One last thing: Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Though not mandatory by state law, many schools in Ohio employ IPM strategies, focusing on pest prevention and reducing pesticide use. When pesticides are used, notification to staff and parents is often included as a best practice.
Ohio encourages schools to adopt IPM practices to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, with changes to pesticide rules forthcoming. Stay updated on these developments for new requirements.
Now, go forth and make sure your kid's school is keeping it safe and sound!
Sources
- Ohio State Farm Office - Pending state regulatory updates affecting pesticide use in schools
- Ohio pesticide use in schools rule - OAC 901:5-11-15
- Ohio pesticide regulations - OAC 901:5-11
- Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator Requirements - Resources on obtaining a license
- Ohio Department of Agriculture - Pesticide business search for licensed applicators
- Integrated Pest Management regulations - Ohio Administrative Code 901:5-11-14
- Lawn Sign Guidance - OAC 901:5-11-09
- Ohio State University Extension - Pesticide Safety Education Program and contact information
- Ohio Department of Agriculture - Pesticide & Fertilizer Regulation Section and contact information.
- In an effort to promote a safer learning environment, Ohio schools are increasingly adopting environmental-science principles and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies in pest management, focusing on pest prevention and reducing the use of chemical pesticides.
- To support the development of future scientists, education-and-self-development programs in Ohio schools may incorporate science-based curriculum on agriculture, pest management, and environmental conservation, teaching students about the importance of these fields in maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
