Guides on pesticide use for industry and local government

You have a responsibility to use pesticides in a safe manner that ensures your own safety and the safety of the public.

Pesticides can be useful and effective in the control of pests but have the potential to harm people and other living things if not used appropriately. Over time, familiarity can result in complacency, and because there are risks associated with inappropriate pesticide use, you must be vigilant when using pesticides.

You must display the appropriate signage and warnings when spraying a pesticide in a public place. The signage and warnings to use will depend on where, when, and how the pesticide treatment is conducted.

Under regulation 89 of the Health (Pesticide) Regulations 2011 (external site), you must use one or more of these measures on when verge spraying using a moving vehicle:

• a flashing light
• a warning sign on the pest control vehicle
• a warning sign on the ground.

Depending on the situation, you may need to use these measures individually or in combination.

The table below outlines common pesticide treatment situations that may occur in a public place, and the signage and warning requirements you must use for each.

If you are verge spraying from a moving vehicle

you must:

• display a flashing yellow light on the vehicle
• display a warning sign on the vehicle with the words:  CAUTION: [NAME OF CHEMICAL BEING SPRAYED] The warning sign must use capital letters, be in a prominent position, and be at least 50 mm high.

If you are:

• spraying a park or part of a park from a moving vehicle, or accompanied by a moving vehicle

• park or verge spraying from a stationary vehicle

you must:

• display a flashing yellow light on the vehicle
• display a warning sign on the vehicle with the words: CAUTION: [NAME OF CHEMICAL]
• display signs on the ground that state: CAUTION: [NAME OF CHEMICAL] BEING APPLIED. AVOID CONTACT WITH AREA WHEN SIGN IS DISPLAYED. All text must be in capital letters at least 50 mm high. You must place ground signs so they are clearly visible to people approaching the spraying operation. Signs must be spaced at regular intervals to provide fair and adequate warning that application is occurring.

If you are spraying pesticides in a public place other than a park or verge

You must:

• display warning signs that state: CAUTION: [NAME OF CHEMICAL] BEING APPLIED. AVOID CONTACT WITH AREA WHEN SIGN IS DISPLAYED.
• The signs must:
  • use capital letters at least 50 mm high
  • be clearly visible in the treatment area
  • be spaced at appropriate intervals to provide fair and adequate warning that pesticide application is occurring.

How long should signs remain in place?

The Guidance on the management of pesticides in local government pest control programs (PDF 574KB) is for local government officers that are responsible for managing pests in their jurisdiction. It  guides the development of pest control programs that incorporate a pesticide management policy (using integrated pest management principles) and pesticide use notification plan.

Local governments in metropolitan and regional WA are responsible for controlling pests within their jurisdiction. Many consider the use of pesticides to be the most efficient and cost-effective option.

Those local governments that use pesticides face several challenges including the: 

• potential for pesticides to harm people’s health
• potential for pesticides to contaminate the environment
• public acceptance of pest control with pesticides
• communication of risks to the public
• high cost of implementing alternative efficient pest control methods.

A pest control program that adopts the framework above can promote:

• better management of the use of pesticides
• more effective use of contracted pest management technicians 
• an increased level of community awareness in and involvement with the program and;
• the adoption of a more consistent and considered approach to the management of pest control programs.

Glyphosate like other pesticides, is considered safe to use when all instructions on the label are followed. 

Concerns about the safety of glyphosate have been broadly discussed and publicised in recent times. The APVMA have produced a fact sheet (external site) that discusses the use of glyphosate and addresses some of the broader health concerns associated with its use.

The Department of Health’s position on glyphosate is that it presents low risk to human health when it is used in accordance with approved label directions.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (external site) has classified glyphosate and its formulations as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’. This classification reflects glyphosate’s hazard potential — meaning it identifies conditions under which cancer could occur — and does not assess the likelihood of harm at typical exposure levels.

National and international regulatory bodies continue to review glyphosate and have found no evidence of unacceptable risk when the product is used as directed.

Use of glyphosate in local government pest control programs

Local governments can choose whether to use pesticides or not. This includes the use of glyphosate. The decision not to use glyphosate could be made based on community support. However, a safe alternative must then be provided.

Local governments in WA are responsible for the control of pests within their own jurisdictions. This includes the development and management of pest control programs. The Department of Health recommends local governments adopt integrated pest management principles in all pest control programs, including weed control programs. Non-chemical treatments are encouraged wherever possible although, it is also recognised that treatments such as slashing, burning and steaming may not be appropriate, feasible or financially sustainable for a local government.

When considering the use of any pesticide including glyphosate the department recommends local governments refer to A guide to the management of pesticides in local government pest control programs in Western Australia 765KB) for more information about meeting community expectations and developing an effective pest control program.

Requirements for local government using pesticides

Local government employees that undertake pest control on land managed or owned by a local government are exempt from being licenced and registered with the Department of Health but must have completed adequate training and education in the safe use of pesticides, relevant to the pest control they are undertaking. Many LGA’s choose to contract or employ licensed pest management technicians instead.

Except for licensing and registration, a local government is required to comply with all other requirements of the Health (Pesticide) Regulations 2011.  If a local government receives a complaint about their unsafe use of pesticides, they should conduct a review of their pest control program.

The Code of Practice for the disposal of pesticide residues from pesticide spray applications (PDF 150KB) provides options for minimising creation of excess pesticides by permitting the reuse of excess pesticide mixture.

Inappropriate disposal of excess pesticide mixtures into the environment is not an acceptable practice.

Environmental contamination from excess pesticide mixture results from:

• diluted spray from spray equipment
• rinsates from pesticide containers
• rinsates from cleaning pest management vehicles
• materials used to decontaminate pesticide spillage or leakage.

Diluted pesticide rinsates and materials contaminated with pesticides are not permitted to be discharged into unlined sumps, storm water drains, sewerage systems and vehicle yards. Such action can increase public health risks and cause ecological harm.

Pesticide residues from excess undiluted pesticide and rinsates or materials contaminated with pesticides shall always be disposed of in accordance with the registered label and the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 2011.

The Code of Practice also encourages the development and adoption of new technology to reduce the production of excess pesticide mixture.

The Code of Practice encourages meeting standards or criteria rather than specified requirements. This should enable the pest management industry and others to develop new technology and systems to meet, and often exceed the standards of the Code.

This code applies to:

• registered pest management businesses
• Government agencies
• licensed pest management technicians
• State and local government employees
• licensed water service providers

All suppliers and users of 1080, PAPP and strychnine products must adhere to the Code of practice for the safe use and management of registered pesticides containing 1080, PAPP and strychnine (PDF 517KB).

Breaches of the Code may result in:

• a formal warning
• a requirement to undertake further training
• cancellation of approval to supply or use 1080, PAPP or strychnine
• prosecution.

Increasing residential development in metropolitan areas previously occupied by agricultural producers, such as market gardeners, has resulted in land use conflicts from concerns regarding exposure to chemical spray drift.

The Guidelines for the separation of agricultural and residential land use explain the department's minimum requirements for establishing buffer areas for the separation of commercial agricultural land from residential land use.

Advice is incorporated from Guidance for the assessment of environmental factors – separation distances between industrial and sensitive land uses (external site) (Environmental Protection Authority, 2005) along with current scientific knowledge and accepted national practice in this area.

These guidelines promote the establishment of effective buffer areas at the planning proposal stage of new residential subdivision and allow all parties concerned to understand the minimum expectations for buffer areas and alleviate impacts of chemical use.

The Guidelines for the safe use of pesticides in non-agricultural workplaces (PDF 550KB) provide practical guidance on the safe use of pesticides for the protection of human health, by assisting pesticide users to achieve a safe system of work and comply with relevant legislation.

Reporting health related complaints about a technician or business

You can report health related complaints or concerns about the unsafe use of pesticides can be reported to the department for investigation.

To submit a complaint email the pesticide safety team on pesticidesafety@health.wa.gov.au.

You email must include the following details:

• name of technician or business
• technician licence or business registration number if available
• location
• time
• date
• photography evidence
• summary of alleged incidence or complaint:
  • be clear, write down details of who you spoke to and when, what you saw and any other witness information.
  • keep copies of emails, agreements, letters, invoices.

Please do not use AI to write your complaint to us. Please use your own words.

Occasionally, local government environmental health officers in regional areas may be asked to assist in an investigation.

How we handle your information

We keep your details confidential and will never share your details without your consent. We may need to share certain details of your complaint with other agencies to coordinate and resolve issues. Your personal details will not be disclosed.

We cannot provide feedback on the progress or outcomes of investigations. If any further information is needed, we will contact you.

Reports about false business advertising

Refer to the WA Consumer Protection website on how to make a consumer complaint - Consumer Protection - LGIRS

Other key contacts

Refer to the section on “Have an issue? Who to contact?” on how to choose a pest management business if your enquiry or complaint needs to be referred to another agency.

Pesticide industry licensing and registration

• Apply or renew a pest management technician licence or best management business registration

Code of Practice

• Code of Practice for Safe Use and Management of Registered Pesticides containing 1080, Strychnine and PAPP
• Code or Practice on the disposal of pesticide residues from pesticide spray applications (PDF 150KB) 

Guidelines

• Restriction on products containing chlorpyrifos used in public spaces (PDF 100KB)
• Guidelines for the separation of agricultural and residential land use (PDF 496KB)
• Guide to the management of pesticides in local government pest control programs in Western Australia (PDF 547KB)
• Pesticide signage when spraying in a public place

National agencies

• Australian Environmental Pest Management Association (external site)
• Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (external site)

If you are working in the pest management industry you can subscribe to the environmental health pesticide safety newsletter to keep up to date with what is happening in WA. 

You can also subscribe to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority newsletter found at the bottom of their webpage.