ACDC (Weed Spraying)

A commercial operator’s licence is required before a person can apply herbicides from ground equipment on land that they or their relatives do not own or occupy. This licence is issued by the Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control (ACDC) Board and is issued for a three or one year term, nominated by the applicant at time of application.

The licence places responsibility on the commercial operator to ensure that label instructions for the herbicides being used are followed, ground spray equipment is maintained in good working order, and that ground distribution records are maintained by ground or aerial distribution contractors in accordance with the Act.

The main aim of licensing commercial operators is to promote responsible chemical use. By satisfying the competencies of the licence qualification, commercial operators have shown that, among other things, they have knowledge of the equipment and herbicides that they will be using and the effects that weather conditions may have on chemical application.

Training includes the following topics:

• Legislative requirements for herbicide application
• Assessment of weed infestation & implementation of control measures incorporating IPM
• Record keeping
• Identifying the hazards of herbicide application and OH&S risk assessment
• Selection and maintenance of tools, equipment and PPE
• Food contamination (MRLs)
• Interpreting chemical labels and MSDS’s
• Mixing different chemicals
• Factors influencing spray drift
• Spraying equipment
• Transporting, handling and storing chemicals

• RTC3704A - Prepare and apply chemicals
• RTC3401A - Control weeds
• RTC3705A - Transport, handle and store chemicals

Students will be required to complete the course using the English language, both spoken and written. Students who are wishing to seek an ACDC license must have sufficient LL&N skills to read and comprehend chemical labels/MSDS in order to gain adequate knowledge of the chemicals they will be using, and individual requirements for the target species they will be spraying.

Statement of Attainment

On successful completion of this course, participants will be issued a ‘Statement of Attainment’ certifying competence of the above units.
To obtain an ‘ACDC licence’, a person makes application to the DPI on the approved form and forwards that to the DPI with a certified copy of the accredited qualification and the appropriate licence fee.
Current licencing fees payable to the DPI for the initial application of an ACDC Licence are: $24.59 for 1 year OR $57.79 for 3 years. Renewals thereafter are: $16.60 for 1 year OR $49.80 for 3 years.

All training aids and safety equipment are provided for use as required. Dress casual, enclosed footwear