Technical
tree spraying equipment, primarily to help local councils and parks to tackle the increasing issues of Brown Tail Moth and Oak Processionary Moth caterpillars. “That creates spraying challenges to get the best out the new equipment and techniques, and to ensure we are operating safely for both the public and the sprayer operators. Making sure we have the right level of training and occupational health support for all our operators is extremely important.” Every one of the firm’s individually numbered knapsack sprayers is checked‐ over, serviced annually, and calibrated each month. An operator is allocated their own sprayer, with its known output. Well maintained sprayers can remain consistently accurate for many years, advocated Nathan, although there is a preference among operators for newer more ergonomically comfortable sprayers that have no bearing on accuracy, but is better for day‐long use.
Secure storage
The company’s national head office, near Chipping Ongar in Essex, has a full sprayer workshop, as well as a purpose built BASIS registered spray store. The store is fully‐ bunded, under a metal grid floor, so any spillage would be fully retained with no chance of resulting in point source contamination.
Plenty of storage racking ensures products are readily accessible. The space and layout also enables the operator, or the store manager, to put ready any package of products required for the next day, so operators can get to work quickly and efficiently. The staging is arranged and managed to avoid lifting of heavy containers. A meticulously maintained stock book on the side maintains a constant record of what, and how much, of any product is in the store, along with where and when anything has been used on a job ‐ which is essential for traceability, but also good business sense for job cost allocation. On the wall, there is an eye‐wash station, first aid kit and health & safety instructions. Dedicated bins inside the store can safely hold empty pesticide containers and used PPE prior to disposal, with no risk of outside contamination.
Not only is the store within the insulated industrial building ‐ ensuring products are kept frost free ‐ but can itself be kept locked when not in use with secure steel doors. There’s even a video camera inside the store to record activity should anything ever come into question.
Out on the road, when products are in use, the company’s spray teams’ vans are equipped with chem‐safe stores. Vans can also be fitted with Dosatron units, delivering precisely measured amounts of product into the knapsacks ‐ without operators having to handle or measure concentrate and eliminating the risk of spillage. Two Dosatron units in a van enable mixes to be applied where appropriate. The vans also have fitted trays with bunded sumps, which would contain any potential spillages during filling.
Changing challenges
Weed species and resulting spray control challenges are definitely changing with different seasonal conditions, especially with the start and end of spray programmes, according to Nathan. Some weed species are becoming increasingly difficult to control, when application technique is even more important to get best possible results, he highlighted. Millet and Field Horse Tail, for example, have both benefitted from a wetter and warmer climate conducive to weed growth; streets are definitely getting weedier.
In some cases, weed control is increasingly a matter of trying to hold it in check, rather than any chance of eradication, he argued. “It makes it essential to understand the chemistry we are using and the way that it works, to be more adept at selecting the right options, and using them at the right time and in the right way.”
In some instances, Nathan pointed out that herbicide control might not even be the best option ‐ when mechanical or even no action might be the most appropriate route. “We are very keen to utilise an integrated approach, where spraying is only part of the overall solution to meet a customer’s objectives.”
The firm is continually running its own trials to test different products and options to find better ways to improve spraying operation and results. For the herbicide products, that is finding which label recommendations work best for them, but also how wetters, acidifiers, pH balancers and surfactants, for example, could help enhance results under different application techniques. As a nationwide company, Nathan pointed out that practices that are most effective in one area may need to be tweaked to take account of weather, water sources and weed species somewhere else.
Results reputation
Nathan emphasised the reputation gained from accurate spraying and good results can prove invaluable in retaining business and developing long‐term relationships with clients, which gives the chance to generate a long‐term plan for managing an amenity area,
“Once we get an understanding for a specific site’s weed burden, we can start to tailor application timing and product use most appropriately. That could mean a different mix of contact and residual herbicide tailored to the situation, or selecting a product most appropriate to the soil type and weed profile.
“You also get a feel for any changes that are occurring by way of weed type and be able to respond more proactively. It also enables rotation of herbicide active ingredients and modes of action to ensure more sustainable future weed control.” Meticulous records of what has been done, and why, builds a picture of every site’s needs, whilst looking at new technology offers an exciting future for aspects such as weed mapping or identifying issues to help with timing. A drone or
Good stocks of PPE so operators always have clean gear ‐ gloves
In‐cab TV monitor for external camera
MSDS sheets for all products readily accessible in the spray store ‐ with first aid kit and stock book
First aid eye‐wash station wall mounted in the chemical stiore
Fully bunded chemical store with non‐slip floor
PC APRIL/MAY 2018 I 137
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