Magazine - Scotts’ technical manager becomes BASIS examiner

By Charmian Robinson in Everris News on 2nd Jul 2008 0:00

Gary Smith, Scotts' Senior Area Sales Manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland has recently accepted an invitation to become a BASIS Examiner. He is a member of the professional register, passing the initial membership course seventeen years ago and the more in depth Facts element in 2004.

BASIS is an independent organisation set up in 1978 at the suggestion of the UK Government to establish and assess standards in the pesticide industry relating to storage, transport and the competence of staff.

To become a BASIS examiner you have to be invited and Gary was delighted to learn that his name had been put forward for selection by Richard Minton, Chairman of the BASIS Amenity Committee, Chairman of the National Association of Agricultural and Amenity Contractors and a member of the Pesticide Action Plan Committee and the Amenity Forum.

"I've known Gary as a manufacturer's representative for many years." said Richard. "He's highly respected within the industry and meets all the criteria required to be an effective examiner. As a professional who offers advice and solutions to the amenity and sports turf industry, I'm acutely aware of the need for objective advisors to offer guidance on the appropriate and safe application of products. Who better to assess and arbitrate on this advice than a representative of a manufacturer, with all the technical training and vast amount of experience to call on?"

Gary's has acquired an in-depth knowledge of products and applications through his career in this industry. Before joining Scotts six years ago, he has had first hand experience of turf management as a greenkeeper and gained some sales experience with other pesticide companies. When asked why he was eager to accept what is essentially a voluntary position, requiring dedication and commitment, he replied. "It's important to Scotts that anyone purchasing and using their products has total confidence in the information given to them by the sales representative. The BASIS standard of training, up to date technical knowledge and implementation of current safety standards is of the highest level. By becoming an examiner I can help ensure these standards are recognised and adopted on a much wider scale."

Read more articles in Everris News, by Charmian Robinson or from July 2008.