The Wood Preservation of Utility Poles skills program has been developed to enable the pest control operator to become proficient in inspection and treatment procedures utilised for Utility Poles (The Preservation of Utility Poles Skills Program is based on the following Agriseta Unit Standards 116301, 116429, 116149).

Dates

Duration

Cost

14-16 November 2022 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00 R5800
09-11 January 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
22-24 March 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
22-24 May 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
24-26 July 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
27-29 September 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
27-29 November 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00

Training Information

The Wood Preservation of Utility Poles skills program deals with the following elements:

  1. Introductory Concepts
  2. Relevant Legislation
  3. Definition and Classification of Pesticides in Terms of Type and grouping
  4. Introduction to the Occupational Health and Safety Act No.85 of 1993
  5. Getting to know Wood
  6. Biology and Identification of Wood-Destroying Organisms
  7. Wood Preservatives and Application
  8. Inspection Procedures and Reports
  9. Safety

The Wood Preservation of Utility Poles skills program starts with a two day practical induction course in a classroom environment, after which the student is assessed and on being found competent a six month mentoring program must be completed. On completion of the program and after being certified competent the learner will qualify to be issued with P-registration number from the department of Agriculture: Act 36 of 1947

The following is included in the course:

  • Refreshments
  • Full comprehensive manual
  • Practical assessment

Course Content

TOPIC 1 INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS
  1. Introduction
    1. Your job as an inspector
    2. A Sense of responsibility
    3. Understanding of the Job
  2. Definitions
  3. In Conclusion
TOPIC 2 RELEVANT LEGISLATION
  1. Name change
  2. South African Standard
  3. Standards applicable to this module
    1. The safe handling of pesticides (SANS 10072)
    2. The application of soil insecticides (SANS 10124)
    3. The preservative treatment of timber (SANS 10005)
    4. The application of fumigants (SANS 10204)
    5. Safety procedures for the disposal of surplus pesticides and associated toxic waste (SANS 10206)
    6. SANS 1288: Specification Preservative-treated Timber
  4. Protocol for the Treatment of Timber
    1. Introduction
    2. The Standard (SANS 10005) contains the following provisions
  5. Appendix 1
    1. National Building Regulations
    2. National Home Builders Registration
    3. Legislation – The consumer affairs Act 1998
TOPIC 3 DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF PESTICIDES IN TERMS OF TYPE AND GROUPING
  1. Introduction
  2. The RSA classification code
    1. Pesticide labels
  3. Pesticide Classification, Properties and Products
    1. Classification according to Target Pest
    2. Classification, Properties and Products
  4. Pesticide formulation
    1. The concept: formulation
    2. What is a formulation?
    3. Types of formulations
    4. Adjuvants
    5. Pesticide Compatibility
    6. Mixes
    7. Preparing a Tank Mix
  5. Insecticide resistance
    1. What is resistance?
    2. Strategies to manage resistance
TOPIC 4 INTRODUCTION TO THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT NO. 85 OF 1993
  1. Introduction
  2. Exploring key concepts
  3. Regulatory and enforcement policies
  4. Understanding the responsibilities of all involved
    1. The Business Owner or Chief Executive Officer as the Employer
    2. Line Management (Supervisors) as representatives of the Employer
    3. Duties or responsibilities of employees
  5. Duties or responsibilities of health and safety representative structures
  6. Moving beyond duties and responsibilities
  7. Safe work practices
    1. Work Safely
    2. General Chemical Safety Guidelines
    3. Flammables
    4. Spill Response
    5. Safe storage practices
    6. Hazardous waste – Think Twice Before You Dump It
    7. Mind your back
TOPIC 5 GETTING TO KNOW WOOD
  1. Introduction
  2. The types of timber grown and their importance
    1. Softwoods
    2. Hardwoods
  3. Nature of wood
    1. Wood and trees
  4. Hardwood and softwood
    1. Introduction
    2. Softwoods
    3. Hardwoods
    4. Sapwood and heartwood
  5. Identification of Timbers
    1. Introduction
    2. The Three directional cuts
    3. The Strength of Wood
  6. Correct environment for wood
    1. The moisture relations of wood
    2. Seasoning
    3. Permanent set
    4. Protected and unprotected environments
  7. Deterioration of wood
    1. The classification of environmental conditions
TOPIC 6 BIOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION OF WOOD-DESTROYING ORGANISMS
  1. Introduction
  2. Powder post beetles
  3. Carpenter Bees
  4. Termites
    1. Introduction
    2. General Biology of Termites
    3. Subterranean Termites and Drywood Termites
      1. Wood Inhabiting Termites
      2. Subterranean (Soil tunnelling) Termites
      3. A comparison between drywood and subterranean termites
  5. Economically Important Species
    1. Macrotermes natalensis – Large fungus growing termites
    2. Odontotermes spp – Fungus grower termites
    3. Harvester Termite (Hodotermitidae)
  6. Subterranean Termite Castes & Colony Development
    1. Colony Structure
    2. Colony Formation
    3. Why PCO’s must understand Colony Dynamics
    4. Ants versus Termites
    5. Termites and their environment
    6. Food Acquisition by Termites
    7. Pheromones
    8. Subterranean Termite Infestations/damage
    9. Dry Wood Termites
    10. Fungal decay in wood
  7. Termite Control Products
TOPIC 7 WOOD PRESERVATIVES AND APPLICATION
  1. Introduction
  2. Requirement for an efficient wood preservative
    1. Fungicidal activity
    2. Insecticidal activity
    3. Permanence
    4. Good penetration
    5. Freedom from harmful effects on the wood
  3. Choice of preservatives
    1. Classification of types
    2. South African bureau of standards
  4. Department of Agriculture
  5. Treatment and Processes Recommended
    1. Water Repellents
  6. Fire retardants
  7. Testing wood for the presence of preservatives
  8. Surface brushing and spraying
  9. Immersion, steeping and deluging
    1. Immersion
    2. Steeping
    3. Deluging
  10. Diffusion
  11. Hot/Cold open tank process
  12. Pressure process
  13. Application equipment needed
  14. The low pressure process
  15. The vacuum impregnation or double vacuum process
  16. The full cell pressure process
  17. The “Rueping” empty cell pressure process
TOPIC 8 INSPECTION PROCEDURE & REPORTSS
  1. Introduction
  2. Inspection procedure and reports
    1. A planned approach
    2. Active infestations
    3. Responsibility
TOPIC 9 SAFETY
  1. Safety precautions
    1. Precautions when inspecting timbers
    2. Precautions when treating built-in timber
    3. Precautions when treating for subterranean termites
  2. First Aid
    1. First Aid Kit
    2. First-aid action
  3. Fire extinguishers and precautions
    1. The five groups of fire extinguishers
    2. In Conclusion
    3. Items necessary for a first-aid kit
ANNEXURE 1 : REFERENCES
ESKOM SPECIFICATION