SAFE Transport, Storage and Disposal of Pesticides and Farm Security Rebecca Hines, MSU Pesticide Education Lyndon Kelley, MSU Extension Dr. Allen Krizek, MSU Extension

Why the concern? Prevent –pesticide poisonings –environmental contamination Compliance with the Law

Transporting Pesticides Safest way – back of a truck or pickup. Never in passenger compartment! Nonporous truck beds. Truck in good operating condition. Secure all containers to prevent load shifts.

Loading Pesticides for Transport Wear appropriate gloves. Carry clean PPE in passenger compartment of vehicle. Inspect containers before loading. Handle containers carefully. Secure all containers to prevent load shifts. Keep spill kit in vehicle (shovel, absorbent material and containers).

Unloading Pesticides Never leave pesticides unattended! –You are legally responsible if people are accidentally poisoned from pesticides left unattended in your vehicle. Inspect vehicle to make sure nothing leaked or spilled.

Pesticide Storage Location 150 ft. from wells (800 ft. for dairy farms or farms with hired employees). 200 ft. from surface water. Consider wind direction and what is downwind from storage site. Easily accessible for delivery, pickup and emergency vehicles. Local zoning, building and fire codes.

Pesticide Storage Facility Separate structure for fire concerns Drainage into secondary containment Fire-resistant structure Sealed floor Non-absorbing shelving Pesticide storage sign WARNING PESTICIDES FIRE WILL CAUSE TOXIC FUMES No Smoking

Pesticide Storage Facility Pesticide Storage Facility Designing Facilities for Pesticide Storage E-2335 On Farm Agrichemical Storage and Handling, available from local MSU Extension office. MWPS-37 Designing Facilities for Pesticide and Fertilizer Containment, available from MSU Ag Engineering Dept.

Pesticide Storage Facility Follow the pesticide label. Cool, dry, well-ventilated area Avoid temperature extremes. Always store pesticides in original containers with label intact.

Pesticide Storage LOCK IT UP Limit access to keys. Inspect storage routinely during off- season. Check certification of users. Clearly post storage areas. Use secondary containment. Have PPE, spill kit available. Avoid stock-piling. TAKE INVENTORY.

Pesticide Spills 5 Cs 1.Caution – Beware of danger. 2.Control 2.Control the spill to prevent further spillage. 3.Contain 3.Contain the spill. 4.Cleanup 4.Cleanup the spill. 5.Comply 5.Comply with reporting requirements.

Pesticide Spills Michigan Department of Agricultures Agriculture Pollution Emergency Hotline Practical assistance with the cleanup of pesticide, fertilizer and manure spills.

Disposal of Excess Pesticide Small amounts – apply to label approved site being careful not to exceed maximum application rate. Michigan Clean Sweep (contact your local MGSP technician). Inventory your pesticides and purchase only what you need – then no need to worry about disposal of excess product.

Disposal of Pesticide Containers Refillable Return to supplier as soon as possible.Non-refillable Rinse immediately after use. Pressure rinse or triple-rinse. Add rinse solution to sprayer tank. Utilize the pesticide container recycling program sponsored by the MGSP and MABA.

Farm Security A 50 pound box of Accent® herbicide is worth $26,000.

Record-keeping Inventory of products chemical/trade name product type EPA number amount on site Inventory of equipment brand/description serial numbers

Know your... employees & suppliers emergency responders neighbors customers

Reporting trespassers thefts unusual activity suspicious people

Planning K eep a list of emergency numbers. Have a written emergency plan. Share the plan with employees. MSUE Emergency Preparedness Web Site

Developing a Farm Security Plan (based on Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point (HACCP)) 1) Identify hazards and determine risks. 2) Institute measures to reduce these hazards. 3) Determine critical points in your operation. 4) Develop monitoring procedures at each point. 5) Develop ways to correct problems or failures if critical points are compromised. 6) Test your program periodically.

For more information contact: Your local MSU Extension office, MSUE Bulletin E-2784, SAFE Transport, Storage and Disposal of Pesticides Your local Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program technician MSU Pesticide Safety and Education Program