Pesticide Applicator

Overview

Under general supervision, conducts mosquito spraying operations, larvicide control work, and mosquito activity surveillance for the County’s Mosquito Control Department.

April-Nov:
Mon-Fri, 8p-4:30a, and some weekends as required;
Nov-April:
Mon-Fri, 7:30a-4p, or Mon-Thu, 7:00a-5:30p, and additional hours as job requires.

• Operates hand sprayers and drives trucks equipped with gasoline-powered fogger to spray insecticide safely over designated areas to control breeding of mosquitoes.
• Conducts pre-operation checks of the truck and equipment to ensure that all systems are safe and operating properly.
• Maintains awareness of truck and equipment operation to ensure safe operation of all mechanical devices and that application rates are within prescribed ranges.
• Maintains spray trucks and calibrates mosquito spraying equipment to ensure proper application of pesticides.
• Exchanges, rebuilds, overhauls, and installs motors on trucks and mosquito spraying equipment.
• Sands, repairs, and refinishes/paints automotive vehicle bodies.
• Fills trucks and spray units with gasoline; prepares pesticide formulations and fills spray unit with chemicals.
• Surveys ditches, marshes, and freshwater areas and treats with larvicides when needed.
• Completes daily reports, inventory logs, and mileage records as required on operation forms.
• Updates maps and driving routes as instructed.
• Maintains onsite buildings and grounds by performing heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming carpets, waxing floors, washing outside of buildings, weeding flowerbeds, trimming bushes, and removing trash.
• Responds to resident requests and works with the public during site investigations and passing out public flyers.
• Attends professional activities, conferences, and committees; obtains and maintains state required pesticide license.

Performs other duties as assigned.

• State and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing mosquito control program operations.
• Department policies, procedures, and regulations covering specific areas of assignment.
• Basic methods, techniques, principles, and practices used in repair shops.

• Reading and interpreting maps.
• General maintenance of shops and vehicles.
• Operating various tools and equipment typically used in vehicle repair and maintenance and small engine repair and maintenance; troubleshooting mechanical malfunctions.
• Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with managers, supervisors, employees, elected officials, local/state/federal staff, Mosquito Control Board members, external public agencies and organizations, vendors, media, and the general public.
• Using initiative, discretion, and decision making within established procedures, guidelines, and rules.
• Defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions.
• Working effectively within strict time frames and under pressure.
• Providing effective work teams and efficient customer service.
• Operating a personal computer and various software applications.

• Texas Department of Agriculture Nonpolitical Pesticide Applicators License.
• Respirator Fit Test (post-employment).
• ICS-(post-employment).
• TFFA Class C (post-employment).
• Valid Texas Driver’s License.

Work is performed in an office, shop, and outdoor work environment. May be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, potential physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and infectious diseases. May be required to work in confined spaces. May be required to climb ladders and work at high locations. May be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.