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Chapter 8 — Transportation, Storage, and Security
Safe pesticide transport, secure storage design, site security, and placards.
Learning Objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
State precautions to take before transporting pesticides.
Summarize label directions on legally disposing of unwanted pesticides.
List steps to restrict access to pesticides.
Explain how to create a safe, secure storage area.
Describe how to properly store pesticides.
Reduce storage amounts by controlling inventory.
Maintain pesticide container integrity.
Transporting Pesticides
Serious pesticide accidents are more likely during transit than at any other phase. The driver is the first line of defense — response time shapes the size of the spill.
Transport Vehicle
Brakes, tires, and steering in proper working order.
Repair all fluid leaks before going on the road.
Inspect hoses for wear/cracks; clamps for rust.
Carry emergency repair supplies and spare parts.
Keep containers in the original shipping box — many meet U.S. DOT packaging standards.
Secure containers against punctures and impact.
Never stack pesticide containers higher than the sides of the vehicle.
Use tie-down rings or racks on flatbed trucks.
🎯 Trick Spot:Never carry liquid pesticides in the passenger area. Spilled chemicals produce fumes that are inhaled and extremely hard to remove. Enclosed, lockable cargo boxes offer the best protection from children, thieves, and vandals.
Vehicle Operator Responsibility
The driver and/or company owner is accountable for injuries and pesticide releases. The driver must know emergency response procedures, company guidelines, and notification contacts. Don't rely on first responders to contain a spill — they may arrive too late.
Required Safety Items During Transport
Product labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) — organized alphabetically by product name.
A spill kit (see Chapter 9).
Inspected containers with legible labels, tight closures, and clean outside surfaces.
Protection from extreme temperatures and moisture.
⚠️ Exam Tip: The SDS is the driver's critical spill-response document — it lists required PPE, inhalation/explosion risk, decontamination procedures, and emergency phone numbers.
Vehicle Placards & Security Plans
Placards = diamond-shaped DOT hazard signs required on vehicles transporting certain types and quantities of hazardous materials. They tell emergency responders what they're dealing with before they approach.
Vehicles Must Be Placarded When Transporting Pesticides:
Bearing a DOT poison label, or
In containers larger than 119 gallons, or
In quantities greater than 1,000 pounds.
Transportation Security Plan (required when placards are required)
Measures to prevent unauthorized access.
Security check of employees picking up and transporting placarded material.
Intended route of travel.
⚠️ Exam Tip: Some drivers transporting pesticides classed as hazardous material must comply with DOT rules on CDL, placarding, shipping papers, and annual inspections.
Designing the Storage Facility
A separate facility dedicated to pesticides (apart from equipment, employees, records) is strongly recommended.
A Well-Designed Pesticide Storage Site:
Limits access.
Permits inventory control.
Protects people from exposure.
Reduces environmental contamination risk.
Protects pesticides from temperature extremes and moisture.
Safeguards against theft, vandalism, unauthorized use.
Lets fire departments know where products are stored.
Secure the Site
Whether cabinet, room, or building — keep it locked when not in use. Post warning signs on doors and windows.
Prevent Water Damage
Do not locate the facility in a flood zone or near a flood-prone stream.
Consider dikes if flooding is possible.
Store pesticides on raised pallets or shelves — not the floor.
🎯 Trick Spot: Water damage to containers causes: metal rusting, paper/cardboard splitting or crumbling, labels peeling or becoming unreadable, dry pesticides clumping or dissolving, and slow-release products releasing active ingredient prematurely.
Control Temperature & Ventilation
Well-ventilated room with controlled temperature.
Exhaust fans must vent to the outside — venting into an adjoining room doesn't solve the problem.
Consider a fan on a timer that runs at set temperatures.
Turn on the fan before entering; wait a few minutes for vapors to clear.
Follow label temperature storage limits.
Other Design Requirements
Adequate lighting — must be able to read labels and spot leaks.
Nonporous flooring (cement or impervious material) — retains spills on surface, easy to clean. A slope into a sump helps collect spills.
Nonabsorbent shelving/pallets (plastic or metal).
⚠️ Exam Tip: "Ventilating into an adjoining room" is a common wrong answer. Vent to the outside or it accomplishes nothing.
What NOT to Keep in the Pesticide Storage Area
Keep these items OUT of storage:
Food, drink, tobacco
Feed
Medication, medical or veterinary supplies
Seed (treated or untreated)
Clothing
PPE (except what's needed for emergency response)
Store only pesticide containers, pesticide equipment, and a spill cleanup kit at the storage site.
Storing Containers Safely
Keep Labels Legible
Store containers with labels in plain sight.
If a label is destroyed, immediately mark the container with: trade name, EPA registration number, signal word, use classification.
Request a replacement label from the manufacturer or online.
Use Only Proper Containers
🎯 Trick Spot:Never use food containers (milk jugs, soft drink bottles) to store pesticide. It's illegal AND children associate the shape/color with the original contents. Never use a pesticide from an unmarked container unless you're certain of its identity.
Placement & Closure
Keep containers securely closed when not in use.
Consider placing partial bags of dry formulations (WP, SP, DF, dusts, granules) in a plastic trash bag or covered tub to reduce clumping.
Place drums and bags on plastic pallets.
Use metal shelving with heaviest containers on lower shelves.
Don't let containers extend past the shelving edge — they can be knocked off.
Bulk Tanks
Place bulk and minibulk tanks on a reinforced concrete pad. Dike around bulk tanks to contain leaks. The dike area must hold the full tank volume plus at least 10%. Keep valves, pumps, and transfer hoses inside the diked area when not in use.
Inspect & Transfer Damaged Containers
If you find a damaged container: put on PPE, place it in a larger container (like a 5-gallon bucket), clean up the spill into the bucket. Use the pesticide immediately at a label-allowed site and rate, or dispose per label.
Inventory Control
Mark each container with year purchased. Use oldest first.
Avoid storing large quantities for long periods.
Buy only what you need for the season.
Contact dealer or manufacturer for shelf-life questions.
Dealing with Unwanted or Canceled Products
Use up leftover product per label — avoids disposal fees.
When EPA cancels a registration, you generally can use existing stock until a deadline. Keeping it past that date may require hazardous waste disposal.
Keep holding pesticides/empty containers in a special isolated section of the storage area until disposal or recycling.
Some states run free or discounted disposal programs — contact your state agency.
Safety Equipment & Supplies On-Site
Duplicate labels and SDSs (kept outside the storage area for emergency access).
Appropriate PPE.
Labeled measuring utensils and PPE (not for other uses).
Absorbent materials for leaks.
Shovel, broom, heavy-duty plastic bags.
Check SDS for deactivating agents.
Clean water, eyewash station, fire extinguisher rated for chemical fires, first aid equipment, emergency phone numbers, soap, paper towels.
⚠️ Exam Tip: A fire extinguisher in a pesticide storage area must be rated for chemical fires — not just a standard ABC household extinguisher for every scenario.
Pesticide Site Security
Every facility must plan for both internal threats (employee theft) and external threats (terrorism, theft, vandalism).
Benefits of a Strong Security Plan
Safeguards employees and the community.
Maintains operational integrity.
Reduces insurance costs.
Prevents theft, vandalism, sabotage.
Protects confidential business information.
Improves relationships with authorities.
First Step: Risk Assessment
The first step in developing a security program is a risk assessment. List the assets needing protection, identify threats, and determine protective steps.
🎯 Trick Spot: The FIRST step in a security program is risk assessment — not employee training, not coordinating with authorities. Training and coordination come AFTER you know what you're protecting.
Report security breaches or suspicious activity to police, local emergency planning commission, fire department, and other response agencies. The FBI specifically asks that suspicious activity related to acquiring or training with pesticides be reported.
⚠️ Exam Tip:Be cautious of unknown persons who want to pay cash for large quantities of pesticides. This is listed as a specific warning sign to report.
Key Terms Cheat Sheet
SDS (Safety Data Sheet): Chemical safety document — must accompany pesticide during transport. Contains spill response info, PPE needs, emergency phone numbers.
DOT: U.S. Department of Transportation. Sets packaging and placard rules for hazardous materials.
Placard: Diamond-shaped DOT hazard sign on vehicles carrying hazardous material.
