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Annexes

Essential equipment within a pesticide store

Thick polyethylene sheeting on floor (if surface is not concrete or otherwise impermeable)
Floor dunnage (bricks, timber)
Wooden pallets
Ramps at entrance to contain leakage
Entrance door with lock to prevent unauthorized entry
Bars across windows and ventilators to prevent unauthorized entry
Container of absorbent sand, sawdust or dry soil
Shovel
Long-handled brush with stiff bristles
Short-handled brush and pan
Water supply, or container of water, with soap
Detergent solution
Drum spanners
Metal funnels
Fire-fighting equipment:
   fire extinguisher
   fireproof blanket
Protective clothing:
   helmet or cloth cap
   safety spectacles, goggles or face shield (attached to helmet)
   dust or light fume masks
   emergency vapour masks or half-face respirators with organic vapour cartridges
   nitrile rubber or neoprene gloves or gauntlets
   overalls
   nitrile rubber or neoprene aprons
   strong rubber or neoprene boots
Empty pesticide containers (preferably salvage drums that can contain a whole 200-litre drum)
Empty bags to repack heavily damaged or leaking containers
Self-adhesive warning labels for marking drums
Emergency first aid equipment:
   first aid box
   stretcher and blanket
   eyewash set
Stock record sheets

Routine pesticide store management procedures

  1. The storekeeper should put on essential protective clothing (overalls and boots) upon arrival at the pesticide store.
  2. There should be a quick daily inspection of drums and containers to ensure that there have been no overnight spills or leaks.
  3. Spilled and leaked pesticide must be cleaned up immediately, using the methods described in section "Spills, leaks and disposal of containers and chemicals".
  4. Drums and containers should be thoroughly inspected monthly for leaking seals, split seams and corrosion.
  5. Leaking or old drums should be removed and their contents transferred to empty containers. Appropriate protective clothing should be worn and precautions taken as described in section "Personal safety and protective clothing". Replacement containers should be sealed and relabelled.
  6. Transfer of chemicals to new containers should be recorded on the stock record sheet.
  7. Dates on labels of containers in the store should be checked monthly and outdated stock separated for disposal. Any labels in poor condition should be replaced.

Arrival of a consignment of pesticides at the store:

  1. The back of the transport vehicle should be checked for spills and the containers for leaks or broken seals; the vehicle should be decontaminated of any spills. Chemicals from containers with leaks or split seams should be transferred to empty containers in good condition and relabelled.
  2. Pesticide containers should be carefully unloaded from the delivery vehicle. The delivery note should be examined and check-list of chemicals arriving at the store should be prepared on a stock record sheet.
  3. Containers of chemicals placed in the store should be set on floor dunnage and stacked using wooden pallets as necessary.
  4. The location of chemical containers in the store should be recorded on the stock record list.

Taking pesticides from the store for pest control purposes

  1. The condition of the transport vehicle should be checked before placing containers of pesticides in it. It should also be ensured that no foodstuffs are to be carried on the same vehicle.
  2. The removal of pesticides from the store should be recorded on the stock record sheet.
  3. The stock first deposited in the store should be the first to be taken out.
  4. Pesticide containers should be carefully loaded on to the despatch vehicle and the driver provided with a delivery note.

Ten rules for proper pesticide storage and stock management

  1. Pesticide stores should not be located in or near densely populated urban areas or near water bodies.
  2. The storage capacity (total storage surface) should be sufficient to store the total stock of pesticides at any time.
  3. Each store should have at least the following:
    • sufficient ventilation openings to avoid unnecessarily high temperatures;
    • floors made of, or covered by, impermeable concrete or cement (as a temporary measure, floors may be covered by a large and thick polyethylene sheet);
    • ramps at entrances to contain any major leakage within the store;
    • doors that are lockable and bars across ventilation holes and windows to prevent unauthorized entry.
  4. The floor of the store should have a layout of separate blocks with aisles between them. Ideally the outline of the blocks should be painted on the floor. Each block should contain only one product. There should be sufficient space between blocks to move containers freely, enable the inspection of containers and treat leakages. Drums should be stacked in such a way that each can be inspected from the aisles between the blocks. Drums and bags should be stored on pallets. The number of containers stacked on top of each other should not exceed the stacking recommendations for the type of container concerned. Overstacking may lead to rupture of containers lower down and reduces access to containers.
  5. Pesticide stores should only contain pesticides. All other goods or objects should be removed.
  6. Obsolete pesticides should be separated from operational stocks.
  7. Each store should have the following for dealing with emergencies:
    • a few bags of sawdust and/or sand to absorb leaked or spilled pesticides;
    • a number of empty containers (preferably salvage drums that can contain a whole 200-litre drum) and empty bags to repack heavily damaged or leaking containers;
    • spade and brush;
    • fire extinguisher;
    • protective gear for staff to enable them to deal with emergencies (nitrile rubber or neoprene gloves, rubber boots, overalls, goggles, vapour masks or half-face respirators with organic vapour cartridges)
    • water supply from a tap, or a container of water, to wash hands and face if these become contaminated;
    • eyewash set.
  8. The contents of leaking or heavily damaged containers should be repacked in appropriate replacement containers. Repacked pesticides should be labelled immediately. Stores should be inspected regularly. Any leakage or contamination should be cleaned up immediately.
  9. Storekeepers should keep a record of the stocks in their custody and a separate record of stocks in the country should be kept centrally. Recorded data should include: for incoming pesticides, the arrival date, formulation, quantity, unit size, date of manufacture, supplier and origin; for outgoing pesticides, the date, formulation, quantity, unit size and destination. Records should be updated regularly.
  10. A "first in - first out"principle should be applied consistently. In other words, always finish old consignments before using newly arrived consignments.

References

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