During loading/unloading, which practice helps prevent unauthorized access to pesticides?

• A. Store pesticides in a separate secured (locked) building.
• B. Never leave pesticides unattended and secure them against access by children, animals, or the general public.
• C. Leave containers unlocked during unloading
• D. Keep pesticides in the passenger compartment of a vehicle

Answer: (B)

Controlling access to pesticides during loading and unloading is essential to prevent exposure, theft, and accidental contact. The best practice is to never leave pesticides unattended and secure them against access by children, animals, or the general public. This means keeping them in a locked vehicle or locked container and maintaining supervision during handling so you’re always in control of who can reach the product. It reduces the chance of a spill being missed, a curious child or pet coming into contact with a container, or someone misusing the pesticides while they’re being moved.

Storing pesticides in a separate secured building helps with long-term storage, but it doesn’t directly address the immediate risk during loading and unloading, and it isn’t a substitute for keeping the product under supervision and secured at the moment of handling. Leaving containers unlocked during unloading presents an obvious risk of exposure or theft. Keeping pesticides in the passenger compartment is unsafe and typically prohibited due to the high risk of spills and unauthorized access.