By CAROL RYAN DUMAS

Capital Press

Prevention is key in avoiding pesticide spills, but most farmers and pesticide applicators end up having a spill anyway, said Sherman Takatori, agricultural program manager of licensing and pesticide training with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

"If you stay in the industry any amount of time, you will have a spill," he said during his presentation Feb. 2 at Agri-Action in Twin Falls.

Most spills are small, but where they happen and what the applicator does to mitigate it are issues.

Takatori breaks up spill management into three areas: prevention; control, contain and cleanup; and planning.

He advises operators to train their employees, identify high-risk situations, have a spill mitigation kit that can handle the volume of the spill, and know who to call for assistance.

"You better have a plan for a spill and know how to react," he said.

Part of being prepared is knowing what type of spill might happen, whether the pesticide is a wet or dry chemical and whether it can get into water.

Developing spill guidelines is crucial. Those guidelines should include where and how to load and mix the pesticide, how to transport it and equipment guidelines.

Mixing and loading performed on the application site and away from a facility specified for those practices are high-risk procedures that increase the potential for a spill.

Applicators should choose an appropriate location that is level and away from storm drains, pump houses, well houses, and waterways. They can mix and load on top of a tarp or other material to contain or soak up a spill and should have water and cleaning materials on hand.

If applicators are operating near waterways they should pay particular attention to the product label; some may have a setback requirement. Regardless of a labeled setback, applicators should have a buffer area so chemical doesn't get into water.

They should also use a hand applicator to reduce large volumes of tank mix near water and for more precise application.

Transportation is also a high-risk situation because applicators cannot control other drivers. They should choose routes to avoid dense traffic areas and high-traffic times of the day.

Because application can lead to spills, operators need to do regular maintenance on equipment and be alert during application to identify and resolve problems.

When a spill does occur, controlling and containing it immediately is essential. The operator can stop the leak or seepage by turning the container upright or bracing it and placing an empty container under the leak. They also need to close any leaking valves or hoses. They could also use duct tape as a temporary patch.

They should use barriers to contain the spill and have absorbents on hand, such as products made specifically for spills, cat litter or soil and should tarp over powders or granules to keep water off it and wind from blowing it.

Liquid spills on hard surfaces should be wiped up and swept. Powders and granules can be swept but should never be vacuumed as that will put chemical in the air, making the air hazardous to breathe. After the chemical is eliminated, hard surfaces can be cleaned with soap and water.

Takatori warned applicators about using bleach to clean, as it can react with some chemicals to produce toxic fumes or ignition.

Finally, if the spill is too large for the applicator to handle, the ISDA, the local sheriff or a hazardous materials team should be notified.