The Curse left by FHA Wales

Site Map Home pesticide pesticide rota REDS Dichlobenil

Pesticide                            During April 2005 I and two other caretakers went on a pesticide spraying course, at Pencoed college, Bridgend and achieved, a spraying qualification. A few weeks later during a team meeting, Stuart Thomas, the manager congratulated us, and stated that we would now be able to start spraying our sites to get rid of weeds. I stated that I could not envisage this happening, because the vans would need to be modified to carry out pesticides spraying, and in my 4 years experience of  FHA Wales, and my knowledge of their reluctance, to spend on anything concerned with Health and Safety it would be a none starter., As usual that did not make me popular.    On...March 2006, we were told we were to commence spraying.  Our supervisor John Bowden, handed us, (Chris Williams, and myself)  : a box of herbicide granules,   a seed dispenser  a weighing scale Then he, told us that we were to commence Spraying the Residential sites  (PLEASE CLICK IMPORTANT PAGE) I objected and told JB that the vans, should be equipped with separate secure containers, for the herbicide, protective clothing  personal clothes,  plus washing facilities  and information about the herbicide we had been given,   I also questioned him on was there a need to spray in the sites planned.   He was not very happy, and asked why did I go on the spraying course if  I was not happy spraying.   I replied that when I went on the course I was pretty ignorant of herbicide spraying. So went on the Internet to increase my chances of passing the exam. I was not very happy with what I learned. This country was using chemicals that other countries had banned, also banned pesticides in this country were still allowed to be used until the shelves were empty. I also told him that in my early life I had done research in physics, where we would sometimes disregard results that we did not expect, and that pesticide research chemists, could do the same,  because of the big profits to be made. Next day he gave us some sheets of information about,  NOMIX VIKING GRANULES, (in the last month or two this link had been cancelled by the company, I have now inserted the new link, ironicaly they show an area to treat, where there should be no people walking!)  a plastic bin to store the granules, a plastic pan and liquid soap. He then told us  "There are containers of water in the van for you to use to wash yourself  when you finish." The first site to be sprayed was Clos Ty Tafol near New Dock Street, Llanelly. Chris Williams, who was carrying out the spraying, was concerned that the quantity he was told to use seemed excesive. JB told  him that it was correct as it had been calculated by Rob Stimpson and himself. While Chris Williams, (under obvious distress)  was spraying, the rest of the team carried on cutting the lawns around the spraying area.  At the end, of the grass cutting, the person with the blower, Paul, was blowing cut  grass and granules on to the lawn areas, until someone said, the granules cannot be good for the lawns. A few days later we found out that senior management had got "Clos ty Tafol" confused with another much larger site. Clos Ty Tafol had been sprayed with TEN TIMES the recommended  dose. Two weeks later on our next site visit, the granules were still there to be seen and they had gathered in various pockets around the site This site, Llys Y Pobydd was another disaster most of the granules were blown across to the old chapel, at the bottom of the site, by the prevailing south westerly breeze. With hindsight this was better than blowing the opposite way. The area where the children play. At "Rhes Gwaith Tyn" the first site I sprayed, I tried hard to draw attention to myself. As I did not have a protective hat, I wore a Tesco carrier bag covering my hair. None of the tenants who walked past, enquired why did I need to be well protected, while they were not?  Although one tenant photographed me working here, 'cos I looked like a spaceman! I obtained the photo off her a couple of weeks later Since I have been dismissed, I have had time to find out about the granules we were using,  the main ingredient is  dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil),    Dichlobenil is   BANNED in DENMARK The Pesticide we used, is dangerous, and what we did was completely wrong (4 March 07)  some advice from the USA on the use of  Dichlobenil Back to Top