Appendix 10: Chemical Specification, Framework
519/14/27
Pesticide Application - Delivery Specification
The Forestry Commission (FC) will supply all pesticide applied on FC Land. The
contractor should never use or supply their own chemical.
The specifications listed below are based on supplier product labels currently
issued with respective pesticides. The contractor should always ensure the most
current, supplier approved product label is checked & followed before applying
any pesticide. This should be investigated in liaison with the FC contract
manager.
For all operations: The contractor must inform the FC before completion of any
work so that work quality can be assessed against the contract schedules. The
contractor must also contact the FC prior to commencing each coupe/site to
ensure all site paperwork is signed & the site is familiarized.
Knapsack Spraying Herbicide
Liquid Herbicides & Adjuvants currently applied by Knapsack for Rhododendron
and other invasive species control and eradication:


Glyphosate - Roundup Pro Biactive
Mixture B - Adjuvant
For each chemical the product label must be followed for nozzle type, product
application rates, dilution rates, timing of application and environmental
protection controls. This should be planned in liaison with the FC contract
manager.
Protective clothing as described in FISA Guide 202 “Application of Pesticides by
hand held Applicators”1 must be supplied by the Contractor and worn by site
operatives who handle, mix or apply chemical.
Contractors will supply all necessary equipment and washing down facilities.
Contractors are responsible for mixing the chemical.
Calibration checks for spray equipment are required daily by each
operative. Evidence of calibration checks should be provided to the FC when the
Chemical Usage Record form is sent.
Water for both mixing & hygiene is to be supplied by the contractor.
1
http://ukfisa.com/safety-information/safety-library/fisa-safety-guides.html
The Forestry Commission may also supply and issue colorants used as dye
markers. This is to be mixed with spray solution to aid site planning and
measure / control application throughout site.
The contractor is responsible for the transport to the site and the return of
empty containers and unused chemical at the completion of the contract to the
chemical store from which it was issued.
Empty chemical containers should be triple rinsed before they are returned to
the Forestry Commission chemical store.
Spraying should stop if significant rainfall is expected before the chemical can
dry. If guidance on weather conditions is detailed on the product label this
should be followed in agreement with the FC contract manager. No additional
payment will be paid for lost time due to weather conditions.
Spraying is to be kept within the boundaries as marked on the ground or site
plan.
Mobile Storage Legislation and Guidance
The legal aspects of pesticide storage are governed by Part III of the Food and
Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA). Under FEPA the following legislation
also applies:
 The Control of Pesticide Regulations 1997(COPR)
 The Plant Protection Products (Basic Conditions) Regulations 1997
The following information is taken from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
information sheet 16. This guidance applies to pesticide storage, usually for less
than a 24-hour period, in vehicles, trailers and mechanised spraying units
stocked from a fixed store.
Ensure that you can safely transport pesticides to the application site and that
they will remain safely stored before use.
Never carry pesticides in the cabs of tractors, self-propelled sprayers or other
vehicles, and consider the following key points before you carry concentrated
pesticides to an application site:
• Use a vehicle with a floor-to-ceiling bulkhead between the
driver/passenger compartment and the load compartment.
• Where the vehicle has no bulkhead, fit secure chemical containers or
provide a secure cabinet mounted on the exterior of the vehicle or on a
trailer.
• Check that the load carrying area is free from projections that might
damage containers.
• Mark the load carrying area with the general danger warning sign.
When away from the fixed store, pesticides should always be secure against
unauthorised access:
• Park the mobile store away from any location where water pollution could
occur.
• Try to work within sight of the mobile store – especially in areas where
the public may have access.
• Lock the cabinet or vehicle when it is unattended.
At the end of the job:
• Check that lids/caps on any part-used products are secure before the
journey back to the fixed store.
• Make sure all empty containers, packaging and other equipment are
returned to the fixed store.
• Return unused pesticides to the fixed store.
Types of Mobile Storage
Transit Chests
This type of storage unit is designed for pesticide transport in the back of a
vehicle fitted with a bulkhead. Only the pesticide containers (used and unused)
and equipment such as measuring jugs should be carried in the chest. The
transit chest should:
• be used with a secure vehicle mounting system
• be made from strong impervious materials
• be used with internal dividers or packers to keep pesticide containers
upright
• have a locking mechanism to prevent unauthorised access
• have appropriate warning signs
• have a non-slip base
• have carrying handles
• be designed to comply with manual handling practices.
Spill mats should be placed on the bottom of the chest to absorb any leaks from
containers. The transit chest should be returned to the vehicle after use and
locked inside.
More than one transit chest may be required in some circumstances.
Additional Safety Standards (All Pesticide Operations)
A site meeting must take place between the contractor and the FC prior to work
commencing, in order to discuss any risks, which may be associated with the
operation, and the measures that will be put in place to mitigate accidents. The
responsibilities of those on site associated with the operation will also be
identified and recorded. The contractor will ensure that any relevant information,
which is communicated to them by the FC, is notified to their employees and to
any sub-contractors who are working for them and through them to their
employees or subcontractors.
The contractor must produce a site specific risk assessment for each work site.
This should be read, signed & followed by all operatives, & held on site available
for inspection by the FC. All risk assessments should include controls &
procedures for Lone Working & Emergencies/Accidents.
The contractor should provide all site operatives with constraints & access maps
that clearly identify site hazards/constraints & provide national grid references
for the forest entrance & worksite. These should be held on all sites, be
understood & available to all operatives.
There should always be a site safety coordinator (SSC) on work sites, who is
nominated by the contractor. The SSC acts as the main contact point if there is
an emergency or safety issue on site. The contractor & the FC should both have
contact details for the SCC & vice-versa. The FC site safety rules should be
available to all operatives on site – this will have contact numbers for
emergencies or queries.
To comply with the Forestry Commission First Aid Policy2, there should be at
least two operatives with ‘Emergency First Aid at Work’ training on site at all
times. The contractor should supply a worksite first aid kit available to all
operatives on site at a centrally identified location - see HSE leaflet INDG214
“First aid at work: Your questions answered”3 & FISA guides stated below. If
operatives are scattered across a work site they should carry a personal first aid
kit with them at all times. As a minimum this should include a large wound
dressing, a pair of plastic gloves & a Resusciade.
All operations are to comply with the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 and
the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988. These
regulations are amplified in the Code of Practice for using Plant Protection
Products in Scotland (2006)4.
For handling, mixing & applying Pesticides & Adjuvants a COSHH assessment
should be carried out by the contractor prior to starting. The product safety data
sheet should be used to undertake the COSHH. This should be held on all sites;
it should be understood & signed by all operatives.
From November 2015 all site operatives handling, mixing & applying pesticides &
adjuvants require certification in NPTC PA1 & PA6, the FC intends to apply this
policy from the start of the framework. No work can take place until legible
copies of these certificates are supplied to the FC.
The operational site plan must be adhered to at all times unless variation is
agreed to by the by Forest Works Manager or their agents.
2
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-8wpmpq
3
http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/publications.htm
4
http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2006/12/19110050/0
All health and safety practices to be followed as per relevant FISA/AFAG
Guidelines and FE safety standards (available from the district office on request).
FISA/AFAG guides & other up-to-date information are available on the FISA
website http://www.ukfisa.com/
Important FISA guides that should be read, understood and followed by all site
operatives:




FISA
FISA
FISA
FISA
202
802
805
701
Application of Pesticides by Hand Held Applicators
Emergency Planning
Training and Certification
Quads
FISA checks should be completed for all operations. Copies are to be provided to
the FC for inspection.
Operators must wear the appropriate PPE as per FISA 202 at all times.
Warning signs will be supplied by the FC and erected by the contractor and
inspected daily by the responsible person as stated in the ‘site safety rules’.
Site access: Vehicle access to and from site will be shown on the location maps
or as agreed with the FWM or their agent, prior to accessing the site.
The Contractor will supply the FC with the names and addresses of all
employees/sub-contractors before work commences. Any changes must be
immediately notified to the FWM or their agent.
Where inexperienced operators are used, it is expected that the Contractor will
be on site personally to supervise and maintain standards.
Additional Environmental
Operations)
Standards
(All
Pesticide
The Contractor shall at all times comply with all Forestry Commission Guidelines,
Environmental Law and any other regulation affecting the conduct of the
Contractor’s business. In particular the Forest and Water Guidelines must be
followed5.
All known archaeological artefacts and nature conservation issues will be marked
on the site plan. Any additional finds (e.g. bird nests, animal burrowing, stone
structures etc) should be avoided, and notified to the site supervisor
No water abstraction is permitted from natural supplies. All water must be
obtained from a tapped source, which must not be directly connected into the
spray solution.
5
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-8BVECX
A pollution control kit must be maintained on site, the size and type of which will
be in proportion to the operation being undertaken, to the FWM or their agent’s
satisfaction.
Any spillage with the potential to pollute MUST be notified to the FWM or their
agent as soon as is practicable. Costs associated with control and/or removal of
contamination will be charged to the contract holder.
Chemicals, protective clothing and equipment must be transported to and stored
on site in suitable containers.
All sites must be kept clean and tidy and litter free. All litter must be collected
and removed from sites.
NOTE: THE MAIN CONTRACTOR OR DIRECT EMPLOYEE
SHOULD BE PRESENT AT START OF ALL SITE OPERATIONS
TO IDENTIFY & AGREE ANY CONSTRAINTS IN ACHIEVING
REQUIREMENTS SHOWN BELOW.
PESTICIDE APPLICATION
CONTRACT BREACHES
& ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY FC
QUALITY
BREACHES
CALIBRATION
HAS NOT BEEN
UNDERTAKEN
AGREED MIXING
RATES NOT
BEING USED OR
CHEMICAL NOT
BEING APPLIED
TO
SPECIFICATION
ENVIRONMENT PUT
AT RISK BY NOT
FOLLOWING RISK
ASSESSMENT &
AGREED PCM
CONTROLS OR NO
CHEMICAL
POLLUTION KIT ON
SITE
SAFETY
BREACHES
SUPERVISION
REGIME PROPOSED
IN TENDER IS NOT
BEING FOLLOWED
PAPERWORK:




IF SPECIFIC PLANTER
CAN BE IDENTIFIED
SPECIFIC OPERATIVE TO
STOP WORK & MEETING
REQUIRED WITH MAIN
CONTRACTOR OR THEIR
SUPERVISOR TO
IDENTIFY PROBLEM &
RESOLVE
SITE RE-VISITS
TO RECTIFY A
QUALITY OR
SPECIFICATION
BREACH
IF THE FC IS NOT
CERTAIN WHO IS
BREACHING
SPECIFICATION
ALL WORK TO STOP &
MEETING REQUIRED WITH
MAIN CONTRACTOR OR
THEIR SUPERVISOR TO
IDENTIFY PROBLEM &
RESOLVE
MAXIMUM OF 2 RE-VISITS TO ANY
ONE SITE ALLOWED – IF FURTHER
RE-VISIT REQUIRED A CONTRACT
WARNING LETTER WILL BE SENT
OUT & THE CONTRACTOR WILL
NEED TO MEET FC CONTRACT
MANAGER TO REVIEW ABILITY TO
CONTINUE.

CONTRACT
WARNING LETTER
SENT TO
CONTRACTOR IF
MORE THAN 2
BREACHES
IDENTIFIED.
CONTRACT
REVIEW
PROCEDURE
STARTED.
IF MORE THAN 1 RE-VISIT IS
REQUIRED ON SUBSEQUENT
OR CONSECUTIVE SITES A
CONTRACT WARNING LETTER
WILL BE SENT OUT & A
MEETING REQUIRED
BETWEEN FC &
CONTRACTOR – CONTRACT
REVIEW PROCEDURE
STARTED.
NO CONTRACTOR RISK
ASSESSMENT ON SITE
NO CONTRACTOR
COSHH ON SITE.
NO LOCATION MAPS OR
SITE PLANS ON SITE
NO FC SITE SAFETY
RULES & EMERGENCY
PLAN ON SITE
NO LONE WORKING
PROCEDURE IN PLACE.
NO PA1 & PA6
OPERATORS ON
SITE. AS OF
NOVEMBER 2015
– OPERATIVES
WITHOUT PA1 &
PA6 FOUND ON
SITE.
INCORRECT
PPE OR
DAMAGED PPE
NO NOMINATED
SITE SAFETY
COORDINATOR
ON SITE
SPECIFIC OPERATIVE TO
STOP WORK & MEETING
REQUIRED WITH MAIN
CONTRACTOR OR THEIR
SUPERVISOR TO
IDENTIFY PROBLEM &
RESOLVE
ALL WORK TO STOP &
MEETING REQUIRED WITH
MAIN CONTRACTOR OR
THEIR SUPERVISOR TO
IDENTIFY PROBLEM &
RESOLVE
CONTRACT WARNING LETTER SENT TO CONTRACTOR
IF MORE THAN 2 BREACHES IDENTIFIED. CONTRACT
REVIEW PROCEDURE STARTED.
SITE OPERATIVES
NOT FOLLOWING OR
AWARE OF FISA
SAFETY CONTROLS
FOR OPERATION OR
EMERGENCY
RESPONSE
PROCEDURES. NO
WASHING
EQUIPMENT ON SITE.