Thoroughly inspect all containers at the time of purchase, before loading. Wear chemical-resistant coveralls or a Tyvek suit and chemical-resistant gloves, even when handling unopened pesticide containers, in case any of the containers leak. Accept the pesticides only if the labels are legible and securely attached to the containers. Check all caps, plugs, and bungs; tighten them if necessary. If leakage has occurred, do not accept the container. Ask for another container.
When loading containers, handle them carefully; don’t drop or toss them. Avoid sliding containers over rough surfaces that could rip bags or puncture rigid containers. Remove anything in the cargo area that could damage or puncture containers. You may want to cover the floor and sides of the cargo area with a synthetic liner or tarpaulin. This will make it easier to clean up any spilled materials.
Always position containers so that lids or caps are facing up. Protect containers that could be
damaged easily, such as glass. Pack light items on top of heavy ones to avoid the chance of damage in transit. Also, put the least dangerous items on the top of the load to reduce the possibility of a more dangerous item falling from the vehicle.
Secure all containers to the truck to prevent load shifts. Besides causing leaks or spills in the vehicle, shifts could damage containers or cause them to fall off the vehicle. Use tie downs or straps and tighten to secure the load. Shrink-wrap alone will not secure a load. Protect containers made of paper, cardboard, or similar materials from rain or moisture with a tarp or some other waterproof cover. Make sure the cover is secure and will not fall off during transport. In addition, protect pesticides from temperature extremes. Very hot or very cold temperatures can reduce the effectiveness of the pesticide and damage the container.
Compiled by Jan Hygnstrom, Erin Bauer and Clyde Ogg, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
