Pesticide Transportation and Storage

1. Pesticide Transportation and Storage Stephen J. Toth, Jr. Wayne G. Buhler Department of Entomology Department of Horticultural Science North Carolina State University North Carolina State University Photograph from North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program.

2. Pesticide Transportation • You are responsible for the safe transportation of pesticides in your possession! • Carelessness can result in broken containers, spills, contamination of the environment, and harm to yourself and other persons • Accidents can happen even if you are transport- ing pesticides safely and a short distance North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

3. Pesticide Transportation: Vehicle • The safest way to transport pesticides is in the back of a truck • Flatbed trucks should have side or tail racks (walls) • Trucks with steel or plastic-lined beds are preferred because they are more easily cleaned in the event of a spill North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

4. Pesticide Transportation: Vehicle Never: • Carry pesticides in the passenger section of a car, van or truck (vapors can make driver and passengers ill) • Allow children, adult passengers or pets to ride with the pesticides • Transport pesticides with food, clothing or other items meant for consumption or contact by humans/animals • Leave vehicle unattended when transporting pesticides in unlocked compartment or open bed

5. Pesticide Transportation: Containers • Transport pesticides only in containers with intact, undamaged and readable labels • Inspect containers before loading to insure that caps, plugs and other openings are tightly closed and no pesticide is on the outside of the container North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

6. Pesticide Transportation: Containers • Handle containers carefully to avoid rips or punctures • Anchor all containers securely to avoid rolling or sliding; provide packing to cushion the containers • Protect pesticides from temperature extremes during transport USDA Photograph

7. Pesticide Storage Improper storage of pesticides can: • Cause harm to humans (especially children), domestic animals, wildlife and the environment (air, soil, water) • Cause accidents resulting from chemical fires, explosions, flooding or spills that contaminate wells, surface water, groundwater and soil North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

8. Pesticide Storage Proper storage of pesticides can: • Extend shelf life of pesticides • Keep pesticide containers in sound condition • Keep pesticide labels clean and legible North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

9. Pesticide Storage Guidelines • Establish a suitable storage site and facility • Secure the storage site and facility • Prevent water damage to site, facility and containers • Control the temperature (heat and cold) in facility • Provide adequate lighting in the storage facility • Use nonporous material to construct the floor • Prevent runoff of water, pesticide, etc. from the site • Prevent contamination of pesticides with the other pesticides, food, feed, seed, fertilizer and equipment

10. Pesticide Storage Guidelines • Keep labels on pesticide containers intact and legible • Keep pesticide containers closed to prevent spills, vapors, contamination, breakdown, etc. • Use the original containers to store pesticides • Watch for damage to containers (tears, leaks, rust) • Store volatile chemical products separately • Isolate waste products (chemicals and containers held for disposal) • Know your inventory and consider pesticide shelf life

11. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesRequirements for All Pesticides • Includes household, farm and commercial storage of both general-use and restricted-use pesticides • Store pesticide containers to prevent leaking, and to facilitate inspection • Do not store pesticides in unlabeled containers North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

12. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesRequirements for All Pesticides • Do not store pesticides in any container previously used to hold food, feed, beverages or medicines • Do not store pesticides in a way that could contaminate food, feed, beverages, tobacco products, seed, fertilizer North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

13. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesRequirements for All Pesticides • Store pesticides in accordance with recommendations for storage on pesticide labeling and the labeling on other products held in the same storage area • Store pesticides in area not accessible to unauthorized persons • Store pesticides in a dry and well-ventilated area • Store pesticides in an area free of combustible materials (gasoline, kerosene, petroleum) and debris (paper, rags, etc.) that may provide an ignition source

14. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesCommercial Storage of Restricted-Use Pesticides • Includes any quantity of restricted-use pesticides stored by pesticide dealers, licensed pesticide applicators, etc. • Previously-listed requirements for all pesticides apply to commercial storage of restricted-use pesticides • Must use security precautions that prevent unauthorized access to stored pesticides

15. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesCommercial Storage of Restricted-Use Pesticides • A warning sign is to be posted beside all entrances to pesticide storage areas North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

16. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesCommercial Storage of Restricted-Use Pesticides • Pesticide spills must be cleaned up immediately (use adsorptive material and dispose of properly) • Pesticide must be stored to prevent contact with water • Pesticides must not be stored within 100 feet of a public water supply or within 50 feet of a private water supply North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

17. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesCommercial Storage of Restricted-Use Pesticides • Must comply with all state and local fire and building codes, and with all state environmental laws and regulations • Must develop a pre-fire plan (one copy for the storage facility and one copy for fire department) North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program

18. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesCommercial Storage of Restricted-Use Pesticides • Emergencies (fire, spill, release) must be reported to the N. C. Pesticide Board, fire department, and other appropriate state and federal agencies • Must maintain a current inventory list of the brand names and formulations of stored pesticides (update every 30 days); a copy of the list must be kept at a location separate from the storage facility

19. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesLarge Commercial Facilities Storing RUPs • Rules apply to commercial storage facilities that store 10,000 pounds or more of restricted-use pesticides • Previously-listed require-ments also apply to large commercial facilities USDA Photograph

20. North Carolina Pesticide Storage RulesLarge Commercial Facilities Storing RUPs • Pesticides must not be stored within 200 feet of schools, hospitals, nursing homes or other institutional facilities • A Contingency Plan for Pesticide Storage must be submitted to the N. C. Pesticide Board; a copy retained at storage facility Ken Hammond

21. Pesticide Storage: Important Telephone Numbers • Carolinas Poison Center: 1-800-848-6946 or 1-800-84-TOXIN (24 hours; aid in human poisoning cases) • N.C. Emergency Management: 1-800-858-0368 (24 hours; to report accidents involving a pesticide) • CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 (24 hours; for help with spills, leaks, fires, and accidents involving a hazardous chemical) • NCDA&CS Pesticide Section: 1-919-733-3556 • Secretary of N.C. Pesticide Board: 1-919-733-3556

22. References • Applying Pesticides Correctly: A Guide for Private and Commercial Applicators. Unit 11: Transporta-tion, Storage, Disposal, and Spill Cleanup. pp. 141-155. • Hudak, C. and W. Buhler. 2000. North Carolina Pesticide Storage Regulations. Brochure. North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Raleigh, NC. 8 pp. (in press)