Posted: July 28, 2009

Nine design questions to ask yourself

The trend towards increasing farm size and more intensive farming systems has driven the need for on-farm pesticide storage facilities. Regardless of farm size, any time more chemical is stored on site, security risks increase along with risks to environment and human safety. This increased risk underscores the need for properly designed and sited chemical storage facilities, says an extension specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

"On-farm pesticide storage may take on many forms – newly constructed buildings or compartments, renovated existing buildings, and containers," says Cameron Wilk. "Farmer budgets dictate what works best for their farms. As you undertake to set up a pesticide storage facility, ask yourself the following questions."

1. Is the storage structure to be used as a single use facility? "Utilizing the building for storage of other farm inputs, equipment storage or a maintenance facility can defeat the purpose of a pesticide storage facility," says Wilk. "As a safety precaution, you should not store food, feed, fertilizer or livestock medication with pesticides."
2. Can I access running water near the site in the event of a spill? "Water is the most suitable means for personal decontamination at or near the storage area."
3. Can I lock the container or shed?
4. Do I have protective clothing, a first aid kit and a respirator, all appropriate to the pesticide stored available at all times? Is the equipment properly maintained and working?
5. Can the flooring contain spills or leaks? Is there a floor drain or catch basin and where does any material go that enters the floor drain?
6. Can the floor be readily cleaned and decontaminated of pesticides?
7. Is there adequate ventilation to prevent the accumulation of toxic or flammable vapours?
8. Do I have absorbent material to soak up a spilled pesticide? That material may include lime, coarse clay, sand, and sawdust.
9. Can I prevent liquid products from freezing during winter months?

Obviously, these are not the only questions producers should ask themselves when designing pesticide storage facilities, but they are the critical ones. More information is available by contacting the Government of Saskatchewan Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 in Saskatchewan or 1-306-694-3727 when calling from outside the province.