As per the "Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control Act 1966", in QLD, the farmers and associates dealing with chemical fertilisers and chemicals need to have the licence to spray the herbicides over the land not owned or occupied by themselves or their direct employer. The licence is called the Commercial Operator's Licence or the ACDC licence. Several organisations offer the training required to apply for this Government supplied licence. After completing thorough training, the procedure involves going online to apply for the licence with several choices as to the time period you wish to hold the licence before renewal will be required. Want to know more about the ACDC licence application in QLD? You can rely on Google to get information on different course details and their criteria. 

To get the licence for spraying the herbicides on land not owned by yourself, you should first complete the chemical accreditation course. Then you need to apply for a commercial operator's licence, ACDC,  from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. So, to get the certificate, you should book the course now in preparation for your ACDC!

Prevention Is Always Better Than Fatal Accidents

The individual dealing with chemical availability and use of herbicides and pesticides should know the importance of having the certificate. Licensing commercial operators' main goal is to promote responsible chemical use. By fulfilling the details of licence qualification, the commercial herbicide operators should know about the equipment and herbicides they are using and their effects on weather, herbicide labelling, calibration, and other conditions on the chemical application. 

Several cases show the fatal accidents caused due to the misuse of chemicals in Queensland. In 2015, a farmer died after accidentally spraying deadly herbicide into his mouth. In 2017, a young individual survived even after drinking a fatal mixture of herbicides when someone unknown left the chemicals in the Coke bottle. 

Apart from these accidents, spray drift is another type of incident due to the absence of knowledge on chemical handling. Farming companies and farmers have lost several thousands of dollars when spray drift happens. Such negligible incidents occur when the herbicides are applied near the built-up areas where crops grow. The course will inform the individuals regarding the actions that they can take to reduce the spray drift. 

What Happens If Anyone Does Not Acquire a Licence?

If someone does not fulfil the ACDC licence application in QLD, you might be open to the prosecution that comes under the ACDC act. Businesses are losing the contracts as no one holds the licence. Even when there is an incident like soil poisoning, environmental damage, or spray drift, the farmers fail in their duty to care for the employees in terms of workplace safety. 

Major Benefits of Having the ACDC Licence

There are lots of benefits to having the ACDC licence. Once you get the licence, you can –

• Improve the employability of more people
• Know the skills and knowledge to apply the chemicals 
• Safety as a long term benefit
• Hazard control and risk management
• Improved environmental awareness and care
• Proper education of chemical application
• Skills to ensure workplace protections

Hence, it is clear that with the ACDC licence, one can use, handle and store the chemicals properly. Countryco Ag Services provides ACDC required courses and other related courses to gain experience in chemical applications. Contact us for further information.