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Pesticide Safety Education

Pesticide safety education (PSE) involves training applicators to use effective risk mitigation practices during pesticide selection, use, handling, and storage.
U.S.-based pesticide safety educator working with OHVN agricultural extension agent in Mali	"Students" in a pesticide safety education class that uses teaching techniques with active learning

PSE does not promote the use of pesticides, but rather develops the knowledge and skills necessary to minimize negative impacts when pesticides application is selected as an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy.
Active lesson simulating pesticide (blue dye solution) application using a backpack sprayer with appropriate nozzle for effective delivery of pesticide to plant surfaces with insect infestations.	White sheets of paper with leaves allow class to view spray pattern of dye solution using bundle of dried grass (top) and backpack sprayer (bottom).	Training materials include lesson plans, booklets, and "flip charts" written in local languages. Other visual aids such as dyes, salt, and flour are used to simulate pesticide formulations.

PSE outreach programs use the train-the-trainer model in which interested and adept "students" of one class often become the trainers of future classes.
Participants are men and women who are agricultural scientists and extension agents, other educators, and farmers.	Today's student may become tomorrow's trainer who promotes safe pesticide practices in her/his village and family.	"Flip charts" display illustrations to farmers who may be illiterate with multilingual text on the reverse side for the trainer.	Farmer field schools (FFS) are often conducted at local villages between periods of active agricultural production.

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