Reducing Pesticide Accidents

By Alissa Hevesh

Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. A minimum score of 70% is required to receive credit.

When applicators think about pesticide safety, some things that come to mind may be pesticide exposure, personal protective equipment (PPE) or the Worker Protection Standard. They don’t always think about the transportation, storage and disposal of pesticide products. Pesticide accidents are more likely to occur when they are transported, emphasizing the importance of pesticide safety diligence at all stages of pesticide handling: from transporting to acquiring, storing, mixing, applying and disposing.

In addition to potentially harming vehicle drivers and passengers if pesticide accidents happen during transport, such accidents can also harm the environment and residential areas. In some cases, such accidents can lead to catastrophic financial or legal outcomes.

TRANSPORTATION

There are several things handlers can do to reduce the risk of pesticide accidents during transport, including making sure pesticides are secured in the cargo area of a vehicle and not in the passenger area (unless no other options are available). If necessary, the area should be ventilated as much as possible. Pets and passengers should be kept as far away from the products as possible.

If transporting in an open truck bed (which is not the best option but is sometimes the only option, and can be convenient for loading), ensure that containers are adequately secured and won’t be stolen or sliding around on sharp turns and bumpy roads. Using tarps to cover the load is recommended since heat and sun can degrade products, and moisture (rain) can ruin certain types of packaging. 

Transporting pesticides requires explicit knowledge about the risks and dangers of pesticide exposure, and basic emergency response skills for the driver are recommended, should an accident occur. In some cases, additional training and qualifications may be required for those transporting pesticides, especially if products in transport are hazardous materials.

If an accident involving pesticides occurs during transport, it’s not just the operator who could be impacted; the vehicle owner can also be liable. Specific documentation must be in the vehicle at the time of pesticide transport, including information if products are regulated by the Department of Transportation. Safety Data Sheets and product labels shouldn’t just be filed at the office. They should also be available on board transport vehicles. If an accident occurs and emergency response personnel need essential information, these documents are where they will find it. Spill kits should also be on transport vehicles.

STORAGE

In a perfect world, every farm would construct a new building specifically for storing pesticides, but this is not always the reality. Whatever the case, a pesticide storage area needs to meet several requirements:

• Protect people and animals from being exposed
• Prevent products from being stolen or used without permission
• Minimize the likelihood of contamination in the environment
• Ensure pesticide products are not compromised by extreme temperatures and moisture
• Minimize liability

To reduce the risk of pesticide accidents during storage, ensure that sufficient signage is posted around pesticide storage facilities — whether it is a single cabinet or a separate building. Ensuring such storage is properly locked and that messaging depicting “no smoking” (as pesticides can be extremely flammable) is present will help to minimize risks and reduce the likelihood of accidents.

Inspect pesticide containers regularly, paying close attention to cracks, leaks or corrosion. Another major consideration for pesticide storage is moisture and subsequently, water. Water can cause various types of damage to pesticide containers and their contents, including:

• Causing labels to become unreadable via smearing or peeling
• Rusting metal containers
• Deteriorating cardboard and paper packaging, causing dry products to clump or dissolve
• Releasing active ingredients in slow-release products
• Degrading products
• Accidental discharge of pesticides

It is therefore recommended to place pesticide storage facilities away from streams and wells to prevent accidental contamination. 

Pesticides should only be stored in their original containers. They should never be stored in food containers, medicine bottles, fuel cans, etc. If something happens to the original pesticide container, use only an acceptable replacement. People (including children) associate container contents with the original contents of said container; in short, it is an accident waiting to happen. Descriptive labeling should be transferred to the new container, including trade and common name, signal word and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration number.

In case an accident happens in the storage area, the following materials should be available for products in the event that they leak or spill: kitty litter, vermiculite, clay, fine sand or activated charcoal. In addition, a broom, shovel, plastic bags that can handle the weight of used absorptive material, and any other material or equipment specified on Safety Data Sheets, should be on hand.

Storage temperature specifications are depicted on pesticide labels and should be followed. Extreme temperatures and excessive sunlight can cause pesticide containers to melt, break or even explode and can cause pesticides to degrade and in some cases volatilize and drift. The ideal pesticide storage area includes temperature control and adequate ventilation.

Only pesticides, mixing and/or application equipment, and spill cleanup kits should be stored in pesticide storage areas. Anything consumable (food, drinks, tobacco, medication, etc.) should not be stored inside these storage areas. Decontamination supplies such as clean water, eyewash stations, soap, paper towels, first aid kits, PPE and a chemical-fire rated fire extinguisher should be available near the storage area but never inside it.

DISPOSAL

Disposing of pesticide waste presents another opportunity to practice pesticide safety. If waste is not disposed of properly, it can contaminate the environment (soil, surface water and ground water) and can also lead to legal action. Pesticide waste types can be classified into five categories: empty containers, excess mixtures, excess waste products, rinse water and leak/spill cleanup material.

Do not store more pesticide products than you can use and buy only what you need. If you find yourself with excess spray mix or rinse water from cleaning equipment, it should be applied to crops or to sites specified on the label. It should never be drained onto the ground. Accumulating outdated or canceled products can potentially lead to a hazardous waste situation, not to mention that outdated products may lose their effectiveness. The status of canceled products should be tracked to ensure that such products are used before the cancellation deadline.

When pesticide containers are empty, some can be rinsed (such as jugs) while others cannot (such as bags, boxes and aerosol cans). Rinsable containers should be rinsed as soon as they are emptied, as the residues can dry quickly. If containers are triple-rinsed or pressure-rinsed, they can be recycled/discarded as non-hazardous waste. Emptied, rinsed containers should be punctured, clearly marked and stored safety until disposed. Some pesticide containers are meant to be returned to the manufacturer/dealer and refilled, but it is essential to store these containers securely until they can be transported.

As far as disposal goes, there are a few options on what can be done with extra pesticide concentrate:

• Store it in a secure place for hazardous waste collection days
• Give it to another qualified user
• Dispose of it through a firm licensed to do so
  
  

Another avenue for commercial operations to properly dispose of canceled, suspended or unusable pesticides is through Operation Cleansweep: a safe, convenient and cost-effective pesticide disposal program offered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Commercial operations with qualifying material can dispose of their products for free, though the amount of material picked up at one time may be limited, based on demand. For more information, visit the Operation Cleansweep for Pesticides website.

Funding is limited each year, so interested participants are encouraged to apply by contacting Cleansweep@FDACS.gov to express interest. Certain information (including EPA registration numbers of products to be disposed) is required on the request form. After a sufficient number of eligible requests are received, scheduling for pickup is coordinated with a contractor. Time-sensitive requests may not be accommodated, and alternative disposal routes are recommended in these instances. A list of currently registered commercial hazardous waste transporters is maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and can be found here. 

Certain items do not qualify for this program (including rinsate, residential products, non-pesticide-coated fertilizer products, household paint, empty pesticide containers, and gas cylinders). Although Operation Cleansweep does not accept empty containers, the Ag Container Recycling Council takes plastic containers that are 55 gallons or smaller. The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance provides a list of companies that recycle containers larger than 55 gallons. County solid waste departments may also accept empty containers for recycling.

Whether transporting, storing or disposing pesticides, always remember to refer to the label of each pesticide container and follow local, state and federal laws and regulations.

Source: Applying Pesticides Correctly, 7th Edition by F. Fishel

Alissa Hevesh is an agriculture and natural resources agent at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Highlands County Extension office in Sebring.

To request a hard copy of the article and test, or if you have questions regarding this article, test or CEUs, contact Alissa Hevesh at ahevesh@ufl.edu or call (863) 402-6540. Please allow two weeks to process your CEU request.