There are many health and Safety concerns and recommendations whilst using a back pack unit. 10s of 1000s are in regular use spraying herbicides,pesticides and fertilisers in the Horticulture,agriculture and pest industry.
There is a licence required for these industries and for the back pack spraying it is known as a PA1 licence, this covers mostly the spraying of hazardous chemicals but also concerns the correct stance,posture,clothing, shoe type and areas where you should or should not work.
My quote from another forum message board.
16 litre backpack with built in 12 volt 7aph battery, 1 gpm max 40 psi pump
4 speed electronic flow settings, charger included, Padded back,shoulder and waist straps.
The Health and Safety implications for using a backpack
are many and a full set of Safety Precautions covering Operator Physical Condition and Clothing will be supplied with our back pack.
What has to be remembered in this new age of Health and Safety is that we as window cleaners are or were all using ladders and moving them around on our shoulders for many hours a day. I had forgotton quite how heavy a trade double 18' was until I had to shift one around our yard recently, when I think that I was at one time walking streets with this 70lb monster.
Now I am no expert on weight loads but I would have thought that 70lb balanced on just one shoulder, at the time 50% of my body weight ( I was a lot thinner and fitter then) doesnt compare to half that weight on a carefully constructed ergonomically designed padded backpack with the weight distributed across the length of the back,both shoulders and supported by a waist belt.
I see all your points clearly but the implication to a backpack sprayer manufacturer can be no greater than to a suitcase,backpack or bergen manufacturer or indeed to a ladder manufacturer. Is the ladder manufacturer responsable for accidents caused by ladders if safety instructions are included with the ladder?
In the 2001 Health and Safety Laboratory (Health and Safety Executive) report of 2001 which Omnipole were the main participants together with contributions from both OTT (ionics) and Tuckerpole, it was recommended that water fed pole users should take a two minute break in every ten minutes worked interspersed with longer breaks during the day. These guidellines I believe are of equal value to backpack spray users.
Regards
Glyn
I took the NPTC PA1 module in 1994 so I am Licenced to Kill (vermin and pests) if you fall into this catogory beware
