3.5 Storage, Hand-Washing & Decontamination Procedures

3.5 Storage, Hand-Washing & Decontamination Procedures

Safe storage, rigorous personal decontamination, and rapid spill response are essential components of pesticide management. Proper facility design prevents chemical leaks from contaminating surrounding soils and groundwater, while strict hygiene protocols shield applicators from accidental ingestion and chronic exposure.

Pesticide Storage Facility Physical Standards

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the EPA establish clear structural requirements for pesticide storage facilities:

Site Location & Setbacks

• Topography: Locate facilities on high, well-drained ground downwind from residential areas, schools, and livestock barns.
• Water Resource Setbacks: Minnesota does not set one universal storage setback in statute, so two rules govern: the product label's own setback controls, and Minn. Stat. 18B.07, subd. 4 and subd. 7 independently prohibit storing pesticides, rinsate, or unrinsed containers without safeguards adequate to prevent an incident, and prohibit filling or cleaning application equipment adjacent to surface waters, ditches, or wells where slope or other conditions could let pesticide reach the water. As a working standard, keep storage and mix/load activity at least 50 feet from wells, surface water, storm drains, and sinkholes, and farther for bulk facilities.
• Flood Protection: Storage buildings must be situated outside 100-year floodplains.

Physical Security & Warning Signage

• Security: Storage facilities must be locked secure rooms or dedicated buildings accessible only to trained, authorized handlers.
• Warning Signs: Prominent warning signs must be posted at all doors and windows reading: "DANGER - PESTICIDE STORAGE - KEEP OUT - AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY".

Environmental & Structural Controls

• Temperature Control: Storage rooms must be climate-controlled to maintain temperatures between 40°F and 100°F.
  • Freezing Hazard: Freezing causes liquid formulations to separate, crystallize, or crack glass/plastic containers.
  • Heat Hazard: Extreme heat increases container pressure, volatilizes chemicals, and accelerates chemical degradation.
• Ventilation: Continuous mechanical exhaust ventilation (or thermostatically controlled fans) venting to the exterior prevents toxic vapor accumulation.
• Fire-Resistant Construction: Use non-combustible materials (concrete block, metal shelving). Keep fire extinguishers rated for chemical fires (Class ABC dry chemical) mounted outside the storage entrance.
• Sealed Concrete Flooring & Secondary Containment: Flooring must be smooth, non-porous, liquid-tight sealed concrete, curbed so that a leak cannot run out of the room. For bulk pesticide storage — meaning any individual container holding 56 U.S. gallons or more, or 100 pounds or more net dry weight — Minnesota Rules 1505.3080, subp. 2 sets the legal capacity standard: the secondary containment area must hold at least the greatest volume that could be released from the largest storage container inside it, plus the volume displaced by the other containers and equipment stored there, plus the applicable precipitation allowance. Storage containers may not be filled beyond 95 percent of capacity, and PVC tanks and fittings are prohibited.

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Shelf Organization and Container Integrity

• Keep Original Containers: Pesticides MUST be stored in their original containers with intact, legible labels. NEVER transfer pesticides into food, beverage, or jug containers.
• Vertical Stacking Rules: Always store liquid formulations on lower shelves beneath dry formulations (wettable powders, granules, dusts). Storing liquids above dry goods creates a severe risk where a leaking liquid bottle saturates dry paper bags below.
• Chemical Segregation: Store herbicides separately from insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers to prevent cross-contamination and accidental crop damage.

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Personal Hygiene & Hand-Washing Protocols

Hand-to-mouth transfer is a primary pathway for accidental oral pesticide ingestion. Handlers must observe strict hygiene standards:

Mandatory Hand-Washing Cadence

Applicators MUST wash their hands and face thoroughly with soap and clean water:

1. BEFORE eating meals, snacks, or drinking liquids.
2. BEFORE chewing gum or using tobacco products.
3. BEFORE using the restroom facilities.
4. AFTER removing chemical-resistant gloves or completing chemical applications.

End-of-Day Decontamination Routine

• Shower thoroughly with hot water and shampoo hair immediately after concluding field applications.
• Change into clean street clothes before returning home to family members.

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Decontamination Station Setup & Water Supplies

Under the WPS, fully equipped decontamination stations must be positioned within 1/4 mile of all mixing, loading, and application sites:

• Water Volume Requirements: At least 3 gallons of clean water per handler at the beginning of each handler's work period (workers require at least 1 gallon each).
• Required Sanitation Supplies: Soap and single-use towels in sufficient quantity — sanitizing gels and wet towelettes do not count — plus one clean change of clothing, such as coveralls, for emergency use by handlers.
• Emergency Eye Flushing: When mixing or loading a product that requires protective eyewear, or using a closed system operating under pressure, the site needs a system that delivers gently running water at at least 0.4 gallons per minute for at least 15 minutes, or at least 6 gallons of water in containers. A handler applying such a product must have at least 1 pint of water per handler immediately available in a portable container.

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Spill Prevention, Containment & Cleanup: The Three C's

When a pesticide spill occurs, handlers must immediately execute "The Three C's" of spill response:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     THE THREE C'S                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  1. CONTROL the Leak   ──> Stop source immediately      │
│  2. CONTAIN the Spill  ──> Berm & absorb liquids        │
│  3. CLEAN UP Waste     ──> Sweep absorbents & report    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

1. CONTROL the Leak

• Put on full PPE immediately before approaching the spill.
• Stop the source of the leak right away: shut off pumps, turn valves, set fallen containers upright, or plug hose ruptures.

2. CONTAIN the Spill

• Prevent the spilled chemical from spreading or reaching water resources.
• Build an absorbent dike around the perimeter using absorbent clay, kitty litter, vermiculite, sand, or spill pillows.
• Block storm drains, tile inlets, ditches, and wellheads.

3. CLEAN UP the Spill

• Spread absorbent material over the liquid pool until absorbed.
• Carefully sweep up contaminated absorbents into heavy-duty plastic or steel waste drums.
• Label drums with the chemical product name, EPA Registration Number, and date.
• Decontaminate the floor surface using a solution of liquid detergent, water, and hydrated lime or bleach as recommended on the product SDS.

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Minnesota Spill Notification Requirements

In Minnesota, pesticide applicators must immediately report chemical spills that threaten public safety, groundwater, or surface waters.

• State Emergency Contact: Contact the Minnesota Duty Officer immediately at 1-800-422-0798 (or 651-649-5451 in the Twin Cities metro area).
• 24/7 Availability: The Duty Officer operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, dispatching technical support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).