As a general principle, systems of storage should be flexible and adaptable.
Stock should be arranged to use the oldest first ("first in first out" principle) and to prevent obsolete stock from accumulating. Containers should be arranged to minimize handling and thus avoid mechanical damage giving rise to leaks. Floor spaces should be uncluttered, with marked, 1-m wide, gangways between shelves or stacks (Figure 11) that permit easy inspection and allow free air flow (Figure 12). This also enables immediate clean-up in the event of any leakage or spills, which can be seen quickly. Climbing on pesticide containers to reach other containers should not be necessary - damaged or corroded metal drums can easily give way under a person's weight and this leads to potentially fatal gross contamination with pesticide.
FIGURE 11 - Marked and numbered rows of stacked metal
containers of pesticides with pallets below
FIGURE 12 - Aisle space to allow free air flow and
access between rows of stacked pesticides
Dunnage (timber and bricks) should be used so containers are not placed directly on the floor. Stacked containers should be on pallets (Figure 13). Corrosion resulting from rising damp or leaking chemicals should be promptly observed and dealt with appropriately.
FIGURE 13 - Outside storage (temporary) of pesticides
with perimeter fence and arrangement
of pallets similar to that inside
Dust, granule and wettable powder formulations
should be kept in cartons during storage to avoid caking. Concentrate
formulations, especially those in glass bottles, should also be kept
in cartons to avoid breakage.
Storage shelves should not exceed a height of 2 m
to avoid the use of ladders.
Containers should not exceed a height of 107 cm on
each pallet. Containers and cartons should be stacked at safe heights
ensuring that they are stable (Figure 14). The safe height depends on
container material (Table 1).
FIGURE 14 - Stacks that are too high become unwieldy and
containers lower down are crushed
TABLE 1
Maximum stacking of containers on top of each other
|
Package type |
Number of layers on basal pallet |
Palletized: number of packages on each pallet |
|---|---|---|
|
Steel drums (200 l) |
1 |
3-4 |
|
Steel drums (smaller than 200 l) |
2 |
3-4 |
|
Fibre drums (200 l) |
1 |
3 |
|
Fibre drums (smaller than 200 l) |
2 |
3 |
|
Plastic drums (200 l) |
1 |
2 |
|
Plastic drums (smaller than 200 l) |
2 |
2 |
|
Paper sacks |
4-5 |
3 |
|
Plastic sacks |
4-5 |
3 |
|
Fibre case containing tins |
4-6 |
3-4 |
|
Fibre case containing soft packages (plastic bottles, sachets) |
4-6 |
2 |
|
Wooden cases |
2-4 |
3-4 |