By law, fieldworkers and pesticide handlers must be trained in basic pesticide safety and personal protection, but who trains their trainers? Pesticide Safety Education Coordinator Lisa Blecker will be giving Train the Trainer workshops in 2014 in various locations around the state. The purpose of these workshops is to teach and certify individuals to provide pesticide safety training to fieldworkers and pesticide handlers. Participants learn pesticide basics, laws and regulations that pertain to worker safety, required elements they must include in a pesticide safety training, and effective teaching methods for adult learners. During the course of the workshops, participants might find themselves selecting and wearing appropriate PPE for a given pesticide application or working in a group to demonstrate to other classmates the safe way to open pesticide containers. Past participants say they like the format and find the group discussions and activities effective for learning how to best provide safety training to others.

In 2014, trainings will be held in the following locations: Modesto, Woodland, Salinas and Bakersfield. Registration for the 2014 trainings opened on December 9, 2013. For details about the dates, locations, and languages offered (Spanish or English), visit the UC Statewide IPM Events and Workshops page.