Integrated Pest Management · Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of California
Pesticide Safety Publications
UC IPM, through publications and videos, reaches employers and workers throughout the state with important pesticide safety information.
How to order
These printed publications are available for purchase, and some are available free in PDF format. See ordering information or order online from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) catalog.
Private Applicator Certification Exam Preparation
Pesticide Safety: A Reference Manual for Private Applicators
(2nd edition)
This manual is a required study guide for the Private Applicator Certification examination. All California farm owners, managers, and employees involved with the use of pesticides should have it. It covers pesticide labels, mixing and applying pesticides, hazards of pesticide use, and pesticide emergencies. It also includes review questions, appendices, a glossary, and an index.
UC ANR Publication 3383, 120 pp.
Seguridad en el manejo de pesticidas: Manual de referencia para aplicadores privados (segunda ediciÓn)
This 133-page manual is a Spanish translation of Pesticide Safety: A Reference Manual for Private Applicators. This book makes it easier for Spanish-speaking persons to prepare for the exam, which has been developed in a Spanish-language version by California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Applicants are still required to read and understand the English-language labels. UC ANR Publication 3394, 133 pp.
The Pesticide Application Compendium
This series, originally written for professionals trying to meet California's tough applicator licensing requirements, belongs on the bookshelves of those who use pesticides, supervise their use, or instruct others in the proper use of pesticides. All types of protective equipment and application procedures are described and illustrated. Hundreds of photographs, drawings, and tables, created especially for each book, help to summarize the ideas presented in the text.
Volume 1: The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides (3rd Edition)
This book provides revised, detailed information for selecting, using, handling, storing, and disposing of pesticides. It emphasizes worker protection, prevention of groundwater contamination, protection of endangered species and wildlife, and reduction of environmental impact. This is the study guide for all categories of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's Qualified Pesticide Applicator License and Qualified Pesticide Applicator Certificate exams. New in this third edition are knowledge expectations which describe expected learning after reading each chapter, allowing more effective study for DPR's pesticide applicator licensing exams. UC ANR Publication 3324, 386 pages.
Volume 2: Residential, Industrial, and Institutional Pest Control
(2nd edition)
This volume focuses on managing structural pests, food pests, fabric pests, rodents, birds, and weeds. It is a valuable resource for applicator and structural pest exam preparation and a helpful reference for anyone trying to solve institutional or household pest problems—from pest control operators to building managers and homeowners. The second edition has been completely revised and now contains review questions and answers to help readers study for the exam. UC ANR Publication 3334, 242 pp.
Volume 3: Wood Preservation
This volume covers safe and effective methods for reducing reliance on wood preservations in situations ranging from treatment of utility poles and railroad ties to decks, fences, boats, and other wood structures. This book presents a clear discussion of alternatives to chemical treatments and includes sections on major pest species. UC ANR Publication 3335, 92 pp.
Volume 4: Forest and Right-of-Way Pest Control
(2nd edition)
This volume is a comprehensive guide to using pesticides and other pest control methods in forest and right-of-way situations. It is an extremely useful reference for anyone responsible for managing pests in forests, tree nurseries, and Christmas tree plantations or along roads, railways, utility rights-of-way, bike paths, and hiking trails. This volume also is the official study guide for the Forest and Right-of-way categories of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's Qualified Applicator Certificate and Licensing examinations. Nearly 200 photos, 56 tables and sidebars, and 11 main chapters aid in identifying pests and demonstrating pest management problems and solutions.
UC ANR Publication 3336, 340 pp.
Volume 5: Aquatic Pest Control
This easy-to-use reference manual and study guide covers diverse aquatic environments, including natural marshes, wetlands, and deltas; irrigation canals and levees; ornamental ponds in parks and golf courses; hatcheries and recreational waters; and municipal water supplies and drinking water reservoirs. Chapters include information on identifying weeds in the aquatic environment; methods of controlling aquatic weeds; identifying and controlling other pests in the aquatic environment; laws regulating aquatic environments, pesticide use, and protected species; selecting and calibrating aquatic herbicide application equipment; and pesticide safety. The manual includes 54 drawings, more than 100 photographs, and a glossary. UC ANR Publication 3337, 168 pp.
Volume 6: Demonstration and Research Uses of Pesticides
A 152-page comprehensive guide in a PDFformat, this publication is geared for those working in demonstration or pest control research (including education, government, and the private sector) settings, and for those studying for QAL and QAC exams in the Demonstration and Research Pest Control category. In this category, chemicals generally are applied in much smaller quantities than in commercial use. UC ANR Publication 9001, 152 pp.
Volume 7: Landscape Maintenance Pest Control
This book is a complete guide to the management of weed, insect, pathogen and vertebrate pests in turf, landscape, and interiorscape settings ranging from parks and golf courses to indoor malls. Designed for professionals working in the public or private sector, it focuses especially on pesticide handling and correct equipment calibration, and application procedures. More than 200 photos, line drawings, graphs, and tables illustrate key concepts. Review questions and answers are included for each chapter. UC ANR Publication 3493, 258 pp.
Volume 8: Lawn and Residential Landscape Pest Control
This book is a guide for maintenance gardeners whose primary job is maintaining landscapes. This book provides an introduction to managing insects, weeds, plant diseases, rodents and other plant pests that invade residential and commercial landscapes. Safe and effective use of pesticides is a special focus of the book, but nonchemical and least toxic management practices are also detailed. This book is the official study guide for people preparing for the California Department of Pesticide (DPR) pesticide applicator exam in the Maintenance Gardener category Q. UC ANR Publication 3510, 219 pp.
Volume 9: Field Fumigation
This book is a guide for understanding all aspects of fumigants and their application. This book provides an introduction to the fumigants, plus their physical and pest controlling properties. Safe application is the focus of this book. Health and environmental effects are also discussed and focus on issues particular to fumigants.
UC ANR Publication 9005, 121 pp.
Addendum available
In response to fumigant labeling requirements revised by U.S. EPA in 2011, California Department of Pesticide Regulation has prepared an addendum to the UC-published fumigant-category applicator study guide. The addendum presents each of the newly required safety measures and is available for download from DPR.
Training resources
Jorge's New Job: Getting Tested for Cholinesterase
Un nuevo trabajo para Jorge: El análisis de la colinesterasa
This excellent training tool is an easy-to-read fotonovela (story-picture format) with back-to-back English and Spanish versions in one booklet. It explains the importance of cholinesterase testing for pesticide handlers who work with certain kinds of insecticides and addresses some common questions and misconceptions. This is a valuable tool for workers, employers, growers, commercial applicators, medical clinic staff, agricultural commissioners, and educators. A companion DVD is available in English and Spanish. UC ANR Publication 21507, in English and Spanish, 36 pp.
La lotería de los pesticidas
This innovative teaching tool, played like bingo, will make training sessions more interesting and enjoyable and help workers retain more of what they have been taught. The illustrations and messages on the cards highlight important farmworker pesticide use and safety concerns to pierce cultural barriers hindering effective communication of health and safety information to Spanish-speaking workers. Each package consists of 16 game boards, a deck of 54 cards, and complete instructions in both Spanish and English. All game pieces are printed in full color on heavy card stock. UC ANR Publication 3355.
A Guide to Using La lotería de los pesticidas
This is a guide designed and written for trainers. Single copies are available (no charge). For further information, contact the UC ANR IPM Program.
WPS Training for Fieldworkers: Teaching Workers How to Protect Themselves from Pesticide Hazards in the Workplace (PDF)
This 95-page instructor's manual is designed to be used with the video, Protecting Yourself From Pesticide Hazards in the Workplace. The manual provides an instructor with ideas and examples of interactive activities to increase comprehension of the pesticide-related workplace hazards and ways workers can avoid these hazards. The video and accompanying activities cover all the points that must be addressed when conducting Worker Protection Standard (WPS) training for fieldworkers. Printing this PDF file will provide you with a camera-ready version of the booklet, suitable for copying. Both the manual and video are public-domain resources. Copies of the video are available from each state's Cooperative Extension Service pesticide applicator training coordinators.
Reducing Pesticide Risks: An Interactive Program for Training Pesticide Handlers (2.9 MB PDF)
This 113-page instructor's manual is designed to be used with the video, Reducing Pesticide Risks: An Interactive Program for Training Pesticide Handlers. This is a five-episode story about a farm owner and a recently hired employee. It portrays their discussions on pesticide illnesses and injuries. Topics include how to protect yourself when you handle pesticides, how to safely handle pesticides and their containers, how to apply pesticides safely, and how to clean up after handling pesticides. Copies of this public-domain video are available from each state's Cooperative Extension Service pesticide applicator training coordinator.
Pesticide Safety for Small Farms: A Grower's Guide to Pesticide Safety
This publication offers the most current pesticide safety information for small farm operators and meets all federal and state pesticide regulations and procedures. It includes 50 drawings to help illustrate the important safety points when handling, mixing, and applying pesticides.
- UC ANR Publication 21555 (English), 32 pp.
- UC ANR Publication 21557 (Hmong), 28 pp.
- UC ANR Publication 21558 (Cambodian), 28 pp.
Companion DVDs are also available:
Understanding Pesticide Labels for Making Proper Applications
These cards are intended to help make safe and legal the pesticide work of applicators and other handlers, pest control advisers (PCAs), and safety trainers. The cards explain when to read the label, what kind of information can be found in each section of a pesticide label, and where are the specific instructions that help applicators apply pesticides safely and avoid illegal residues. The cards are highly illustrated with text in both English and Spanish. 31 cards.
Get a physical copy of these pocket-sized laminated cards bound with a spiral coil during UC IPMÂ Pesticide safety trainings.
QAC or QAL Certificate Exam Preparation
Sewer Line Root Control
This publication provides information for those who use or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides for controlling roots in sewer lines. This is the recommended study guide for the Sewer Line Root Control category of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's (DPR) Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) or Qualified Applicator License (QAL) examinations. Download from DPR. .
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