Structural Pest Control Applicator Practice Exam

If pesticide drifts onto a non-target area causing injury or economic loss, who is legally responsible?

1. The pesticide supplier

2. The applicator

3. The property owner

4. No one

The correct answer is: The applicator

The applicator is considered legally responsible for pesticide drift that causes injury or economic loss to a non-target area. This is because the applicator is directly involved in the application process and is responsible for ensuring that the pesticides are applied in a manner that minimizes drift and adheres to all relevant regulations and guidelines. Applicators are trained to understand the environmental conditions that can affect pesticide drift, such as wind speed and direction, temperature, and humidity. They are also tasked with following best practices and label instructions to ensure that the application does not impact areas outside of the intended target. While the pesticide supplier may provide the product and the property owner may have a stake in the application process, the applicator holds the primary responsibility for execution and compliance with safety and application guidelines. Therefore, in the case of pesticide drift resulting in adverse effects, accountability falls on the applicator for their actions and the consequences that arise.