NARRATIVE REPORT ON

PROPER PESTICIDE HANDLING

Members:

Florentino, Michelle

Nunez, Cathrine Joy

Malaidan, Sumay-ya

Baway, Laiza Mae

Formento, Kate Mariz

INTRODUCTION

Pesticides are chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents,
fungi and unwanted plants (weeds). Over 1000 different pesticides are used around the
world. Pesticides are used in public health to kill vectors of disease, such as mosquitoes, and
in agriculture to kill pests that damage crops (World Health Organization, 2023) .

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the government body that
regulates pesticides in the U.S., a pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances
intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. Though often
misunderstood to refer only to insecticides, the term pesticide also applies to herbicides,
fungicides, and various other substances used to control pests. Pesticides also include plant
regulators, defoliants and desiccants.

OBJECTIVES

This report aims:

1. To know the importance of proper pesticides handling; and

2. To determine the dos and don'ts of using pesticides.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Pesticides are vital to the agricultural industry for the production of food and fiber, and
are quite effective when used appropriately. However, you must be very careful about how
you handle these chemicals, as well as how you transport, store, mix, load, apply and
dispose of them. You must know the potential risks of using agricultural chemicals. When
these materials need to be used, only authorized and trained people will be allowed to
handle them.

Pesticide handling is the cleaning, handling, adjusting, or repairing the parts of mixing,
loading, or application equipment that may contain pesticide residues. Assisting with the
application of pesticides, including incorporating the pesticide into the soil after the
application has occurred.

Although pesticides can be useful, they also can be dangerous if used carelessly or are
not stored properly.

Store Pesticides Properly

Not only is it important, but it is also legally required that pesticides are stored in a safe,
secure and well- identified place.

 Pesticides should be stored in a properly labeled container with the label clearly
visible. Never store pesticides in old bottles or food containers where they could be
mistaken for food or drink for people or animals.
 You must never store pesticides near food, feed or seed.
 Store pesticides in containers that can be tightly sealed. Check the containers
regularly to make sure they have no leaks, breaks, tears or defects.
 Store pesticides in a location away from freezing temperatures or extreme heat.
 All pesticides are to be stored under lock and key at all times. The building, room or
structure where they are stored should be clearly marked with pesticide warning
signs.
 Use protective measures when handling pesticides as directed by the label, such as
wearing impermeable gloves, long pants, and long-sleeve shirts. Change clothes and
wash your hands immediately after applying pesticides.
  Keep children, pets (including birds and fish), and toys (including pet toys) away
from areas where you mix and apply pesticides for at least the length of time
required on the label. If no time is listed on the label, wait until the pesticide has
dried before reentering the area.

Pesticide Disposal

Proper disposal of pesticides and their containers is an important phase of pesticide

management. An improperly disposed product can be hazardous to people and the
environment. Rinse liquid pesticide containers three times when emptied: fill the containers
about one-third full and swish it around.

Never reuse an empty pesticide container. If an empty triple-rinsed container cannot be

disposed of immediately, store it in a safe, locked area. Before throwing out powders or
granular pesticide containers, be sure to remove all contents from the containers.

Pesticides can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption by the skin
and eyes. The skin usually receives the most exposure, so it is important to cover as much of
the body as possible. Make sure you wear the required protective clothing (printed on the
label) before opening the pesticide container.

Always read the label before applying the pesticides to avoid injury and to protect you
and your crops.

LITERATURE CITED

Pesticide storage and disposal state regulations(link is external): Massachusetts Department

of Agricultural Resources retrieved from https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-
floriculture/greenhouse-best-management-practices-bmp-manual/pesticide-storage-
handling
https://pesticidestewardship.org/homeowner/using-pesticides-safely-and-
correctly/#:~:text=Excessive%20application%20could%20cause%20the,plants%2C%20wildlif
e%2C%20and%20fish.

https://nasdonline.org/299/d000104/safely-handling-pesticides-script.html

https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-incidents/pesticide-safety-
tips#:~:text=Change%20clothes%20and%20wash%20your,cover%20food%20during%20indo
or%20applications.

https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/chemical-safety-
pesticides#:~:text=What%20are%20pesticides%3F,are%20used%20around%20the%20world.