Wood Preservation of Utility Poles (NQF 4)

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