Storage Of Agrochemicals

Agrochemicals include pesticides, disinfectants, additives, stock remedies and fertilizers. These should be kept in a protected store on the farm. Within the store, one should separate the different types of agrochemicals, keeping similar chemicals together, (the pesticides should be kept separate from the fertilizers, herbicides should be separate from insecticides) to ensure there are not confusing. When pesticides are packed in a store on shelves, powder or dry pesticide formulations should be stored on the top shelves, above the liquid formulations. Seeds and feeds should never be kept in the same store as agro-chemicals.

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Arranging Stock In A Store

Chemicals should be stored under dry, good ventilated and cool conditions to prevent rapid deterioration. The store should be well organised with the shelves labelled and areas designated for specific materials or equipment. Chemicals should be well separated from other items, preferably in a separate store.

A list of the contents in the store must be kept. In addition, when stored items are used, they should be logged and maintenance records kept for equipment. This will allow you to replace items in good time and ensure that equipment is kept in optimal working condition. A well-organised store will prevent the accidentally wrong usage of items.

Water tends to condense on cement floors. In order to prevent wetting and damage to cartons or paper bags, or even rusting of metal containers, materials should be placed on pallets and should not be stacked against exterior walls.

Correct And Efficient Storage

It is important to store/stack items correctly as it will prevent accidents and injuries from occurring, prevent contamination and the spreading of bacteria, improve the daily work routine, stock taking is made easier, inventory control & order is made easier and maintenance is completed more efficiently.

A few pointers that will help you when storing equipment and materials correctly:

• Hooks and clips can be used to hang up items such as brooms and mops.
• Storerooms must be lockable.
• There must be good ventilation.
• Sufficient light must be present.
• Chemicals must be labelled and stored away from other materials.
• Chemicals must NEVER be kept in unused food or drink containers.
• Chemicals must be stored away from direct sunlight or heat.
• Chemical containers (with taps) should have a tray/bucket to collect spillages and drops that may cause accidents.
• Diluted chemicals must be marked or labelled to ease identification.
• Do not allow waste to accumulate in the storeroom but must be disposed of in a prescribed manner.
• Chemicals (by law) are not allowed to be stored on the floor. Pallets and shelves should solve this problem.
• Use a ladder when reaching for items on top shelves.
• Clean shelves and floors regularly.
• Always store items in the correct place as specified by organisational procedures.
• Only authorised staff should have access to the storeroom.
• Keys to the storeroom should be kept by the person responsible for the storeroom, such as the supervisor or storeman. Every item leaving the store should be signed in and out according to procedures.
• Everything that concerns stocks and supplies should be recorded in order that the person, responsible for the store, can keep track of stock levels and ease stock taking.

Ventilation

Well-designed and well-maintained ventilation systems remove corrosive vapours, fumes, mists or airborne dust from the work area and reduce their hazards.

The quantity and type of ventilation needed to minimize the hazards of airborne corrosives and volatiles depend on the kind and volume of chemicals stored and the size and layout of the work area.

An evaluation of the specific way in which such chemicals are stored, handled, used, and disposed of should be done to be able to determine whether existing ventilation measures (and other hazard control methods) are adequate.

Some workplaces may need a complete system of hoods and ducts to provide acceptable ventilation. Others may require a single, well-placed exhaust fan. When working with a small number of chemicals, a specially designed ventilation system will not be necessary. Use a corrosion-resistant construction when acidic chemicals are stored.

Prevention Of Contamination

Use products on the basis of “first in first out”.

If chemicals and fertilisers are kept in the store for a long time, they might become ineffective or they might even become dangerous due to the chemical reactions that take place over time.

Use, Handling And Storage Of Tools

Five simple basic steps to ensure a more organized tool storage area:

Step 1: Clear out the Junk - Throw away all the junk and broken tools as they take up space. Sort out the rest and place it in cabinets, on shelves or hang it on hooks (type to type). A disorganized place is transformed into a neat and tidy store!

Step 2: Paint the Walls and Floor - Consider painting the floor and walls before you start installing and arranging your storage systems. Preferably use epoxy paint that is designed for floors and use lighter colours in smaller spaces to make them appear bigger.

Step 3: Storing Smaller and Larger Items - Many storerooms have untapped potential that can be utilised to make room for more storage. Shelving is vital. Inexpensive shelves can be purchased from the co-op or more expensive custom-designed cabinets can be installed. Always label closed containers so that you know what is inside. Allocate space for the different types of hand tools on the shelf. Spare parts (for other equipment such as tractors, spray pumps, mowers and weed trimmers) should be stored on a separate shelf.

Step 4: Organise your Work Area - Use transparent jars to store smaller items (screws, nails and washers) so that you can easily see what they contain.

Step 5: Safe Storage for Expensive Tools - Install a lockable latch on a cupboard door to lock expensive electrical tools away. Extra storage in the roof must also be considered. Attach a storage shelf onto pulleys hanging from the beams to hide boxes or crates that may be needed at a later stage.

Lights

Mount spotlights on the beams above the working area to ensure that the area has adequate light. (A standard light is likely to cast shadows over the working area).