The Indiana Pesticide Review Board has regulations that impact how school corporations may use pesticides on school grounds. MSD Lawrence Township follows these guidelines.
State Information
The state of Indiana does not have any statewide requirements regarding the posting of notification signs for indoor pesticide use.
III. Posting Notification Signs for Outdoor Pesticide Applications
Overview
For a wider range of protection, states should require posting pesticide notification signs for outdoor pesticide applications as well. Students who play sports or people continually on the lawns represent a high risk when applications occur on school property. Dermal exposure can occur when a football player gets tackled, a soccer player slides to make a block or a student sits on the grass to eat lunch or watch a game. Inhalation exposure can occur when a player breathes in kicked up dust and dirt and pesticide residues. Even spectators at a game or passersby face inhalation exposure to pesticides that volatilize or vaporize off the treated area.
State Information
Indiana Administrative Code, section 1-5-1, requires licensed applicators for hire to post signs when applying a pesticide to a lawn. The signs are to remain posted until the following day.
IV. Prior Written Notification
Overview
Written notification of pesticide use is a good way to make sure that all parents, children and staff are aware and warned of pesticide use in the schools. Limited notification-based registries is a less effective means of notifying people and does not qualify as true right-to-know because of its limited scope. Requiring that individuals place themselves on registries, sometimes only with a doctor’s letter, afford only those who already know about toxic exposure the opportunity to be informed about pesticide use in the school. Prior notification should be 72 hours in advance to make sure the information has been received, to get further information regarding the pesticide and to make arrangements to avoid the exposure, if necessary. Notification should include the name of the pesticide(s), a summary of the adverse health effects listed on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and label, the day and time, and area of the application and how to obtain a copy of the MSDS and label.
State Information
The state of Indiana has no statewide law requiring prior notification of pesticide applications.
The Indiana Pesticide Review Board created a Pest Control Advisory Policy in March 2001 that encourages schools to voluntarily adopt the policy which includes a prior notification provision, if adopted by school districts. Parents shall be notified annually of the school's pest control policy. A registry shall be established for parents and staff who would like 48 hours advanced notice of the pesticide application. In an emergency, the school will give written notice "as soon as possible."
V. Prohibitions on Use
Overview
Limiting when and what pesticides are applied in and around schools is important to the reduction of pesticide exposure. Pesticides should never be applied when students or employees are in the area or may be in the area within 24 hours of the application. In reality, certain types of pesticides, such as carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, reproductive toxins, developmental toxins, neurotoxins, persistent compounds and substances, bioaccumulative compounds and substances, toxicity category 1 acutely toxic pesticides and ground water contaminants should not be used around children.
State Information
Application area must remain unoccupied for 2 hours following applications made at day care centers.
