Michigan State University

Pesticide Safety Education Program

Pesticide Storage And

Handling

Larry G. Olsen and Robert H. Wilkinson

Michigan State University

Consider Soil and Land Characteristics When Constructing a Facility

Livestock Barn

New Mixing & Storage Site

Runoff Pond

House

Well

Farm Shop

Grain Cleaning and Storage

Machinery Shop

North

Winter Prevailing Wind NW

SW Summer Prevailing Wind

Minimum Recommended Distance From Loading Pad and Storage Area:

200 ft - House and Surface Water

150 ft – Private Well

50 ft - Fuel Storage and Public Road

25 ft - Property Line and Pressurized Water Line

A Separate Building for Storage is Preferred

Use Fire-Resistant Building Materials

Seal the Floor of the Facility

Floor Curbing

Floor Drains

Exhaust Fans

• Ventilate the Area

Exhaust Fan for

Ventilation and

Temperature Control

Provide a Separate Heat Source

Explosion-Proof Electrical Fixtures May Be Required

Chemical Flash Points

Use LocalBuilding Codes

Store Pesticides in a Locked, Secure

Place

Use Metal Storage Shelves

Provide Some Secondary

Containment

NFPA-30And

NFPA-395

Consult Labels for Special Storage

Instructions

Separate Pesticide By Group

•Herbicides

•Insecticides, Fungicides, etc.

Do Not Store Pesticides With:

•Food•Feed•Potable Water•Seeds•Protective Equipment

Never Place Pesticide Containers in

Windows

Store Pesticides in Original Containers

•Never Repackage Pesticides

•Always Keep the Label Fixed to the Container

Keep Pesticides Out of Reach of Children, Pets, Livestock and Irresponsible People

Mark Containers with the

Date of Purchase

Have a Clean Up Kit Readily Available

Loading Pad

•Keep Clean

•Containment Barrier

Have a Chemical Approved Fire Extinguisher

Clean Up Requires

•Sink•Shower•Eye Wash

Keep a List of Emergency Phone Numbers Readily

Available

Give the Local Fire Department and

Emergency Response Coordinator a List of

Materials, Quantity and Floor Plan of Storage

Facility

The Information in this slide set has been taken from the MWPS-

37, “Designing Facilities for Pesticide and Fertilizer

Containment.”