May 2005
Store Pesticides Safely By John Bartok Jr.

Even if using a chemical storage locker is not a law in your state, you should still follow these guidelines for safe storage.

The potential for unauthorized use of pesticides has prompted new concerns about storage and security. Now may be a good time to review your storage practices to see if they meet current guidelines. Proper storage can prevent accidents that could cause property or environmental damage.

There are very few states that have regulations specifically related to pesticide storage facilities. All states have guidelines and accepted practices that will help to keep them secure and isolated from the surrounding environment.A well-designed storage facility has four components:

storage cabinet, room or building;
mixing area;
Store Pesticides Safely

John Bartok Jr.
John Bartok Jr. is an agricultural engineer and extension professor-emeritus in the Natural Resource Management and Engineering Department at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. He can be reached by E-mail at jbartok@rcn.com.