CHT Business Operations & Professionalism 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which certification is specifically designed for horticulture technicians working in the landscape industry?
- CHT – Certified Horticultural Technician (Correct answer)
- CLP – Certified Landscape Professional
- ISA Certified Arborist
- NALP Green Industry Credential
Correct answer: CHT – Certified Horticultural Technician
The CHT (Certified Horticultural Technician) credential from PLANET/NALP is specifically designed for landscape technicians demonstrating competency in horticulture and landscape skills.
Question 2: Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when spraying pesticides typically includes:
- Only safety glasses
- Chemically resistant gloves, long sleeves, eye protection, and a respirator as label-specified (Correct answer)
- A hard hat and steel-toe boots only
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
Correct answer: Chemically resistant gloves, long sleeves, eye protection, and a respirator as label-specified
Pesticide label PPE requirements are legally mandated; typical requirements include chemical-resistant gloves, protective eyewear, long sleeves, and in some cases, a respirator.
Question 3: The 'right-to-know' law (OSHA Hazard Communication Standard) requires employers to:
- Post wages in the workplace
- Train workers on chemical hazards and provide access to SDS sheets (Correct answer)
- Report all injuries within 24 hours
- Label all equipment with owner information
Correct answer: Train workers on chemical hazards and provide access to SDS sheets
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom/GHS) requires employers to train employees on chemical hazards and maintain accessible SDS sheets for all hazardous chemicals.
Question 4: Which practice best demonstrates professionalism when working on a client's property?
- Using the client's tools without asking
- Leaving equipment and materials neatly secured and cleaning up all debris before leaving (Correct answer)
- Parking on the lawn to save time
- Skipping walk-through communication with the client
Correct answer: Leaving equipment and materials neatly secured and cleaning up all debris before leaving
Professional site practice includes securing and organizing equipment, cleaning up all clippings and debris, and leaving the property in better condition than found.
Question 5: When using pesticides near a water body, what is the most critical precaution?
- Apply at the highest label rate for faster results
- Observe all buffer zone requirements on the label to prevent runoff into water (Correct answer)
- Apply during midday wind for better coverage
- Mix pesticides directly in the water body
Correct answer: Observe all buffer zone requirements on the label to prevent runoff into water
Pesticide labels specify buffer zones near water; respecting these distances prevents aquatic contamination, protects non-target organisms, and keeps applicators legally compliant.
Question 6: Job costing in a horticulture business involves:
- Estimating competitors' costs
- Tracking actual labor and material expenses per job to compare against the estimate (Correct answer)
- Setting annual company budgets
- Calculating employee bonuses
Correct answer: Tracking actual labor and material expenses per job to compare against the estimate
Job costing tracks real labor hours and material costs on each job and compares them against the estimate, revealing profitability and areas for operational improvement.
CHT Business Operations & Professionalism 2
Which certification is specifically designed for horticulture technicians working in the landscape industry?