New awards to recognise Best Practice in Amenity Spraying
SprayCDA are very keen to promote and advocate best practice across the Amenity Sector, which is why we are very excited to be involved in helping with the Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards.
We are committed to best practice, be it through pesticide reductions using low volume application methods, training and a commitment to 'Continual Professional Development' or use of integrated management systems to enable our industry to share learning and pass on our knowledge. The awards have been designed and are being judged by a number of industry experts including SprayCDA's Technical Manager, Vicki Wall.
Vicki working with the Amenity Forum and other members are keen to encourage as many spray operators as possible to enter the awards and showcase how much expertise there is within the sector. The award categories cover boom spraying, vehicle mounted sprayers and handheld applicators across a range of surfaces from sports turf to hard surfaces and invasive species control.
The following press release gives more details on the awards; A new amenity initiative is set to recognise and reward the industry's best sprayer operators. The Amenity Forum's Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards aim to improve overall standards by identifying the best practice of individuals to enhance results, and sharing their experiences across the industry.
Launching the Awards at BTME in Harrogate, Amenity Forum Chairman, Professor John Moverley, highlighted that accurate and efficient spray application was an integral part of the commitment to fulfil the Sustainable Use Directive.
"The best practice in sprayer operation we are seeking to promote can immediately reduce the risk of point source contamination during filling and diffuse losses during application," he advised. "Furthermore, achieving the best possible results from every application could reduce the need for retreatment and lower the overall use of pesticides.
"Better results will also ensure businesses are getting the best value for money from every treatment, in terms of turf quality for golf and sports through to weed control on hard surfaces and amenity areas, for example."
The Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards are sponsored by Syngenta and Everris.
Sprayer operators are encouraged to now enter one of three separate categories of the Award:
â- Sports and amenity turf using boom sprayer
â- Hard and porous surfaces using vehicle mounted equipment
â- Hard and porous surfaces / Invasive weed species using hand held equipment
Successful entrants will be sent a short questionnaire to report on their spraying practices, designed to identify and highlight examples of best practice, along with individual practical tips and advice they have implemented.
A short list of finalists will be visited by a panel of independent industry specialists to award the accolade of Sprayer Operator of the Year in each category. Each winner will receive a Go Pro Hero action video camera, along with £500 of training vouchers for further CPD.
Professor Moverley added that the Awards will be supported by a dedicated Amenity Forum website to record and share the experiences of the industry's best sprayer operators, magazine articles and podcast videos, along with social media channels to spread ideas and tips as widely as possible.
Initial entry forms can be downloaded from the Amenity Forum website, or requested from SprayCDA's Vicki Wall and any other participating industry organisation.
Daniel Lightfoot, Syngenta UK Business Manager, said: "We recognise that the skills of the operator are paramount in achieving the best possible results from every application. In almost every instance they have instigated ideas and practices to make the spraying process easier, more accurate and, ultimately, safer.
"The Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards are a welcome way to recognise and reward the leading individuals and to learn from their experience."
Everris Business Development Manager, Ed Carter, added: "We are delighted to support such an important cross-sector industry initiative with a continued commitment to raise standards and improve results.
"Importantly it has identified and recognised the diversity of spray application techniques and the differing skills involved across the amenity sector. It will provide a unique and vitally important resource for all involved in spray application."
Entry to the Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards has been entered for NRoSO, BASIS and BIGGA CPD scheme points.
For more information and a copy of the application form please visit www.greencast.co.uk/uk/news/general/news-2015/new-awards-to-recognise-best-sprayer-operators.aspx