Who is required to hold insurance among pesticide applicators?

Commercially licensed and certified applicators are required to hold insurance primarily because they are involved in the business of applying pesticides for compensation. This insurance requirement ensures that they are financially protected against potential liabilities that may arise from their pesticide application activities. Given the risks associated with pesticide use, such as accidental spills or damage to non-target species, insurance serves as a safeguard for both the applicators and their clients.

In contrast, private applicators, who typically apply pesticides for their own agricultural production, often do not face the same level of legal liability, thus they may not be mandated to carry insurance. Homeowners applying pesticides for personal use also generally do not have the same requirements as professional applicators. The requirement for insurance serves to uphold standards of safety and responsibility within professional pesticide application practices.