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Pesticide Storage and Safety for the Pest-Management Professional
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Wint er 201 4
By Sonja B. Thomas, Ph.D., Pesticide Applicator Training Coordinator, AL Cooperative Extension System
As
a pesticide-safety educator, I often receive questions about pesticide rules and regulations, personnel protective equipment and various restricted-use pesticides. On occasion, though, I receive questions from a pest-management professional (PMP) concerned about
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the proper way to store pesticides. Explaining that the label is the law and to follow the directions printed on the label is the first advice I share. Understanding that the label is the law, any deviation from the label (unless it is more restrictive) can result in citations and possible jail time.
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, section 40 CFR 162.10, requires that each pesticide label list the appropriate storage and disposal information. There are simple and cost-effective solutions to comply with these laws, but building specifics (such as materials, site selec-