Make All The Right Moves When Transporting Pesticides

 The associated risks of transporting pesticides include:

1. The flammable or explosive potential of pesticides, their solvent carriers and containers.
2. The toxicity of the product and its smoke, fumes, vapors, and dusts.
3. Potential exposure of pesticides to the driver, co-workers in the vehicle and persons outside the vehicle in the event of an accident.
4. The corrosive nature of many pesticides or their waste by-products after burning.
5. The possible after-effects from an accidental spilling or dispersing of these biologically active chemicals onto vegetation, yards, streets, or into sewers, ponds, rivers or other waters.

While most active ingredients are toxic especially in their concentrated form they are not flammable. However, solvents like oils and pesticide emulsions present a fire hazard and should be transported as toxic, flammable liquids. Pesticides are stored in a variety of containers including glass, paper, cardboard and paper that can burst, melt or burn in the event of an accident. Therefore, it is important for all individuals that have contact with pesticides become familiar with the established protocol listed in the label in the event of spills and other incidents during transportation of these potentially hazardous products.

Basics Of Handling And Transporting Pesticides

Some things to remember before transporting pesticides:

• Never carry pesticides in the passenger compartment of a vehicle because spilled chemicals can be difficult or impossible to remove.
• Open, leaking, damaged or severely corroded containers of pesticides should never be transported.
• The cargo area of a vehicle must be able to securely hold containers and provide protection from potential punctures or any external impacts that can lead to container damage.
• Enclosed cargo boxes provide the greatest protection but are not always practical.
• Open truck beds are convenient for loading and unloading, but take precautions to minimize the possibility of losing containers on sharp turns or bumpy roads.
• Ensure that flatbed trucks have side and tail racks, and tie-down rings, cleats or racks to simplify the job of securing the load.
• Never stack pesticides higher than the sides of the vehicle.
• Load and unload pesticide packages with care. Neither place them under heavy items, which may crush them, nor allow them to drop from a height.
• If pesticide containers must be transported with other goods, they must be separated in sealed partitions and securely fixed with straps or rope.
• Pesticide containers should be loaded in such a way that they will not be damaged during transport, that their labels will not be rubbed off and that they will not shift and fall off the truck on rough road surfaces.
• Before departing make sure that the technical data for all pesticide products and emergency information for spill response are in the vehicle. This information can be found in the label and in the material safety data sheet also known as MSDS. Your local distributor will provide you with a MSDS for the products you purchase or you can access the MSDS of most products at www.cdms.net. The regulatory section of an MSDS lists whether or not the pesticide product is a DOT-regulated product.
• Access to a mobile phone is strongly recommended for anyone routinely involved in the transport of pesticides or working alone in remote locations.
• Always carry a spill kit including a shovel and broom and personal protective equipment appropriate for the pesticides in transit.
• Protect pesticides from temperature extremes and moisture during transit. Extremely low or high temperatures (below 40°F or above 110°F) can alter the stability or effectiveness of some pesticide formulations.