Safe Pesticide Storage Are your pesticides stored properly? Introduce your self Provide: Name Title and where you work Brief description of the MGSP Cooperative effort of MSUE, MDA, NRCS, Americorps Funded by user fee on pesticides and N fertilizers Money provides technical assistance, education, and cost share. Safe Pesticide Storage How and where to keep hazardous materials in the house to prevent accidental exposure to people and to water.

Problems Easy access by children or pets Old or leaking containers Missing labels Hazardous location Children or pets can get into containers that are easily accessible. The bright colors, triggers, or danger might attract them. Old leaking containers might be hazardous by spreading material on to shelves or floor, where it might be easy to come into contact with. Missing labels makes it hard to properly use, store, or dispose of chemicals. Hazardous locations include Garage shelves that could be hit by a car Areas close to furnaces or hot water heaters Areas prone to freezing Areas without good ventilation

Storage for hazardous materials: Original containers with labels Away from children, pets, wildlife, irresponsible adults Secondary Containment Original containers with labels – the Label is the Law! Locked cabinets or storage containers can keep hazardous chemicals away from people or animals that shouldn’t be near them. Secondary containment helps to collect spills, drips, or leaks. This makes it easier to: Clean up Contain any major leaks Prevent large areas from being contaminated Secondary containment may include: Disposable aluminum roasting pans Plastic storage containers Food trays

Storage for hazardous materials: Off the floor Ventilated area No food, feed, seed, and water Floor drains Hazardous product should be stored off of the floor where if spilled they are less likely to go into any drains or soak into the soil or concrete Ventilation is important to reduce the buildup of hazardous vapors or odors. It can also help to prevent spontaneous combustion of volatile chemicals Food, feed, seed, and water can all be accidentally contaminated when stored in close proximity of hazardous chemicals. Do you know where your floor drains go? Many floor drains in houses go to the sanitary sewer, but most floor drains in garages drain directly into the ground. That is not a place to put any hazardous chemicals!

Storage for hazardous materials: Get rid of old and unusable products Buy only what you need Household hazardous waste collection services or Clean Sweep locations are excellent ways of getting rid of unused or unusable chemicals. Prevention works even better, if you don’t have them you don’t need to store them or dispose of them.

Here are the contents of a pesticide spill and storage kit Here are the contents of a pesticide spill and storage kit. A complete kit may be assembled for as little as$15. Professional kits for farmers or businesses may cost over $100. Lockable storage container - $4-$25 – The container acts as secondary containment and is lockable to prevent access. Pet lietter - $1-$4 – The litter readily absorbs spilled liquids. Contaminated litter can be bagged and disposed of in your regular trash. Chemically resistant gloves - $3-$10 – A must for whenever you are handling hazardous chemicals. Best kinds are nitrile or neoprene and include wrist guards. Safety goggles - $3-$10 – Eyes are extremely sensitive to harsh chemicals. Goggles can prevent exposure due to splashes. Broom and Dustpan - $2-$4 – To sweep up spilled material Garbage bags - to easily dispose of spilled material. Locks - $3-$15 – To lock the container

For more information Michigan State University Pesticide Education – www.ipm.msu.edu/pesticide_education_safety Poison Control System (800) 222-1222