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Handling Pesticides Safely
Handling pesticides safely involves more than
just applying them correctly.
You must also store and transport pesticides
properly.
So, in this video, we'll talk about handling
pesticides safely, which includes four areas of safety:
properly storing pesticides,
safely
transporting pesticides,
disposing of unused pesticides,
and disposing of pesticide containers.
Properly Storing Pesticides
Properly storing pesticides helps protects
the environment, wildlife, our pets, and people.
It also helps prevent unauthorized access
to pesticides.
Here are eight steps you can take to ensure
that storage of pesticides is safe and secure.
One.
Store the pesticides in the original container
with the original label attached.
This helps make sure no one has to guess what's
inside.
And it keeps all the important directions
and safety precautions with the pesticide.
Two.
Store the pesticide in a locked cabinet or
room to maximize safety and security.
It's best if the storage area is temperature
controlled, as very high or very low temperatures
can cause problems.
Read the pesticide label to find the suggested
storage temperatures.
Usually, pesticides should be stored above
32 degrees Fahrenheit, which is above freezing,
and below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also make sure the pesticides are not sitting
in direct sunlight.
Direct sunlight can damage the pesticides.
Three.
Make sure the storage area is well lit so
that the pesticide labels can be easily read.
Four.
Let everyone know they should not eat, drink,
smoke, chew tobacco, or vape anywhere near
the pesticide storage area.
Five.
Keep pesticides separate from non-pesticide
items, like food and other chemicals.
Never store pesticides with, or near, food,
medicine, seeds, and animal feed.
No one wants these materials to become contaminated
with pesticides!
Also make sure no one stores the pesticide
with, or near, cleaning supplies, combustible
materials, and fertilizers.
These materials may have a bad chemical reaction
with the pesticide.
The Safety Data Sheet, known as the SDS, will
list any chemical interactions the product may have.
Be sure to follow the SDS and keep pesticides
far away from any chemicals that can cause reactions.
Six.
Make sure the pesticide storage area does
not have a floor drain, and that the storage
area is not near a well head or source of
water.
Seven.
Store the pesticides above the floor, not
on the floor.
Use pallets under large containers or bags.
Store smaller packages of pesticides on metal
shelves.
Use leak-proof plastic trays on shelves to
help protect from spills.
Store dry pesticides on the higher shelves,
and liquid pesticide containers on the lower shelves.
This will reduce contamination in case a liquid
container leaks.
Eight.
For all these reasons, don't stockpile pesticides.
Buy only what you need for a specific job
or for the current season.
This will reduce the risk of spills or contamination.
And it will reduce the risk of pesticide container
degradation, which is when the containers
get old and are more likely to leak.
Transporting Pesticides.
Be sure to transport pesticides in a safe
manner.
This is an important part of pesticide application.
Let's talk about five specific rules for
safely transporting pesticides in Nevada.
First, do not transport pesticides in the
cab of your service vehicle.
All concentrated pesticides, and empty
pesticide containers, cannot be transported
inside the cab of a vehicle.
They must be transported in a locked box that
is outside of the cab, like in the bed of the truck.
Second, make sure you lock the box whenever
you are not actively mixing pesticides.
Locking this box is required, not optional!
This prevents anyone from messing with or
stealing the pesticides.
Third, verify that every pesticide carried
by the vehicle has a complete pesticide label on it.
This label must be in good condition so that
anyone can easily read it.
Fourth, you may store your pesticide application
equipment outside of the locked box that contains
the pesticide, but your application equipment
must still be secured within the vehicle.
Make sure the truck's doors and all storage
compartments are closed and locked.
This helps make sure that no one can easily
damage or steal your equipment.
Fifth, verify that all pesticide application
equipment has abbreviated labels attached to it.
This is required by Nevada law.
These labels should contain three pieces of
information:
The name and address of the company, or government
agency, responsible for the container,
The name of the pesticide in the container,
and
The signal word for the pesticide, such as
Caution or Danger.
In general, transporting small amounts of
pesticide does not require a permit.
Check with the Nevada Department of Transportation
to find out if permits or placarding is required.
They will want to know the amount and brand
of pesticide you will be transporting.
Disposing of Unused Pesticides
You must dispose of waste pesticides properly.
Because pesticide containers can degrade over
time, they can lose their ability to safely
contain the pesticides.
This increases the risk of pesticide exposure
to the environment, wildlife, our pets, and people.
So, it is better to properly dispose of the
pesticides rather than store them long term.
NEVER pour pesticides down a drain.
Pouring pesticides down the drain can harm
and contaminate surface waters and groundwater.
This means that the pesticides can end up
in your drinking water!
As previously discussed, the Nevada Department
of Agriculture has a pesticide waste disposal program.
They will take unused and unwanted pesticides
and dispose of them properly, at no charge.
This service is open to all pesticide applicators,
including licensed pest control companies,
farmers, and ranchers.
It is also open to businesses and homeowners.
But you must call first to set up a drop off
date and time.
Call the Nevada department of Agriculture
at (775) 353-3717 to set up a drop off time.
Make a list of the pesticide materials you
are dropping off.
The Nevada Department of Agriculture website
has a form you can use at http://agri.nv.gov.
Click on the plant tab, click on Environmental
Services, then go to the bottom of the page.
Click on forms, and then click on Disposal
Pesticide Form.
You should know that they will NOT take pesticide
rinsate.
Rinsate is the contaminated water used to
rinse pesticide containers.
Containers should be triple rinsed as they
are emptied, and the rinsate should be put
in the tank or sprayer.
They will not take other chemicals either,
such as motor oil, paint, antifreeze or fertilizers.
To recycle those materials, call the State
of Nevada recycling hotline at 1 (800) 597-5865.
Disposing of Pesticide Containers
What should you do with empty pesticide containers?
Look at the pesticide label and find the proper
disposal instructions.
The approved method of disposal is recycling.
It is illegal to burn pesticide containers
in Nevada.
The Nevada Department of Agriculture developed
a recycling program in cooperation with other groups.
For information on this recycling program
and its requirements go to
http://agri.nv.gov.
Click on plant, click on Environmental Services,
then go to the bottom of page and click on
Industry Fact Sheets.
Then click on Pesticide Container Recycling.
Collection dates occur several times a year
at different pesticide dealers.
Store the empty containers you wish to recycle
in a cool dry place at your facility until
the collection date.
For more information on this recycling program,
call (775) 353-3717.
The following containers are NOT accepted
for recycling:
Containers with any residue.
The residue is considered waste pesticide
and cannot be recycled.
Containers that held animal healthcare products
or disinfectants.
Homeowner home or garden pesticide containers.
Unlike the unused pesticide disposal program,
the pesticide container recycling program
is NOT open to homeowners.
Containers that held homeowner swimming pool
products.
The ineligible containers should be disposed
of according to the label directions.
Remember that using pesticides safely includes
transporting and storing them safely.
Disposing of unused pesticides and empty pesticide
containers protects you and the environment.
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