Section 250-RICR-40-15-2.12 - Standards of Competency for Private ApplicatorsA. Private applicators must show that he or she possesses a practical knowledge of the pest problems and pest control practices associated with his or her agricultural operations; proper storage, use, handling and disposal of the pesticides and containers; and his or her related legal responsibility appropriate to 40 C.F.R. § 171.5(a) (2017). This practical knowledge includes the ability to: 1. Recognize common pests to be controlled and damage caused by them.2. Read and understand the label and labeling information including the common name of pesticides they applied; pest(s) to be controlled, timing and methods of application; safety precautions; and pre-harvest or re-entry restriction; and any specific disposal procedures.3. Apply pesticides in accordance with label instructions and warnings, including the ability to prepare the proper concentration of pesticide to be used under particular circumstances taking into account such factors as area to be covered, speed at which application equipment will be driven, and the quantity dispersed in a given period of operation.4. Recognize local environmental situations that must be considered during application to avoid contamination.5. Recognize poisoning symptoms and procedures to follow in case of a pesticide accident.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-40-15-2.12