Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
The importance of safe pesticide use on farms cannot be emphasised enough. Given the threat they could pose to humans and nature, it is essential to adhere to regulations and label instructions when using pesticides for agricultural purposes. This was the message from Hiresh Ramanand and Quade Sing Jam of CropLife SA during a recent webinar refresher course for farm workers who have to handle pesticides.
Read the label
The most important thing is to read the label and know what each item means. The label is a legal document that must include essential information such as the purpose of the pesticide, its product name and registration number, the product group, a declaration regarding the use and formulation of the product, the batch number, manufacturing date and expiry date (where applicable), active ingredients, manufacturing company’s name and logo, volume of content, precautions, and safety instructions.
Safe storage of toxins
Any farm on which pesticides are handled can be inspected by officials tasked with this duty. One important requirement is that agricultural remedies on a farm must be locked away in a storeroom so that animals or unauthorised people cannot gain access to them. The store must be located more than 500 m from any open water source or borehole, and preferably in a separate building. Pesticides must not be stored in the same building as animal feed and seed.
The building must also allow easy access for vehicles. Any flammable material such as grass around the building must be removed. The building or store must be located more than 500 m from schools, houses, hospitals or clinics, shops, places where food is processed or prepared, and recreational areas. All precautionary measures must be taken to ensure the safety of the people who work with these toxic substances.
Warning notices/signage must be displayed on the outside of the building. The names and phone numbers of the manager/owner as well as the emergency numbers of the police, local hospital, ambulance, and fire brigade must be displayed on these notices/signage. The warning STORAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS – UNAUTHORISED ENTRY PROHIBITED (or similar) must be displayed in red letters (75 mm) against a white background.
Warnings should be in English and another language indigenous to the region that everyone can understand. Warning notices/signage must be clearly visible and easy to read at all entry points to the store.
Managing the store
Ramanand and Sing Jam offered tips such as keeping liquids and solids separate, placing old stock in front so that it can be used first, and ensuring easy access to up-to-date pesticide stock records. Items not allowed in the store are, among others, animal feed, flammable liquids and materials, and inorganic, solid fertilisers.
Essential items in a farm pesticide store should include a wash basin with running water and soap, a first-aid kit for treating general injuries, an eye wash bottle, a safety shower, and dry chemical powder fire extinguishers. Each store must be equipped to manage incidents such as spillage. For example, there must be a spill kit accompanied by a protocol or clear standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure a swift, compliant, and safe response to any chemical spill. A spill must be cleaned and handled responsibly, and hazardous content must be disposed of in compliance with national regulations.
General worker safety
According to the law, when someone works with pesticides, it is compulsory that they have access to personal protection equipment (PPE) such as protective clothing. They must use the correct equipment to mitigate the risk of exposure to agricultural remedies.
Firstly, the label should be studied carefully before the specific pesticide is mixed. The person/persons in charge of the pesticides should ask themselves important questions when mixing the agricultural remedy:
- Is the product registered for the crop and pest, disease or weed?
- What are the warnings and precautions to take note of?
- Do I have the required buffers, adjuvants, and clean water?
- Are the spray tanks thoroughly decontaminated?
- What is the mixing sequence (as per the product label)?
- What is the dosage rate per hectare?
- What is the volume of the pesticide(s) that I should decant into my spray tank (such as calibrated dosage)?
- Are the weather conditions consistent as per the label instructions?
- Is the PPE suitable for the pesticide(s) to be used?
Safety precautions when spraying
Since pesticides could pose a risk to the environment and to people, it is essential that no children, bystanders, pets, livestock, wildlife, poultry, or bees are present during application. Once the pesticide/s has been sprayed, important measures must be observed:
- Never reuse empty containers or bags for any other purpose and do not give it to someone else.
- Never burn or bury empty containers or bags as they deposit toxins into the environment and produce toxic fumes.
- Always triple rinse or spray rinse, puncture, and recycle empty containers and bags.
- Store triple-rinsed empty containers or bags in a secure store on the farm until they can be taken to a CropLife SA certified recycler.
- Never leave half full or empty containers or bags in crop fields.
- Never leave spray mixture in a spray bottle.
- Dispense all spray mixture before rinsing the sprayer.
- If instructed by the label, use a commercial decontaminant.
- Check all pipes, nozzles, valves and seals, and fix or replace them if necessary.
- Leave the sprayer cap off to allow water to evaporate.
- Store the sprayer in its proper place in the farm store away from direct sunlight.
– Koos du Pisanie, Plaas Media
For more information, send an email to Hiresh Ramanand at hiresh@croplife.co.za or Quade Sing Jam at quade@croplife.co.za. Visit www.croplife.co.za for additional information.