Precautions with Pesticides: Pesticide Spills

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Table of Contents

1. Pesticide Spills
2. Other topics on Precautions with Pesticides
   • Pesticide Regulations
   • Certification and Training Requirements
   • General Precautions
   • Read and Follow Pesticide Label Information
   • Human Health
   • Protective Clothing and Equipment
   • Protect the Environment
   • Disposal of Pesticides and Empty Pesticide Containers
   • Storing Pesticides
   • Pesticide Spills
   • Application Procedures
   • Precautions with Pesticide Tables
     • Pesticide Schedules in Ontario (Pesticide Regulations)
     • Safety Supply Companies in Ontario Providing Protective Clothing & Equipment (Table 1-1)
     • Pesticides Act Storage Requirements (Table 1-2)
3. Related Links

Pesticide Spills

Protect yourself before you begin to clean up any spill. Clean up spills immediately.

In the case of minor spills:

• for liquids, cover the spill with a thick layer of absorbent material such as kitty litter, vermiculite or dry soil. Sweep or shovel the material into a waste drum.
• for powders and granulars, sweep or shovel the material into a waste drum.

In the case of a major spill:

• remove any people or animals from the spill area
• stop the spill from spreading
• do not let the pesticide enter any watercourse.

For information on preventing spills see OMAFRA Factsheet, Ways to Avoid Pesticide Spills (Order No. 96-025).

If a well becomes contaminated, follow the cleanup instructions in OMAFRA Factsheet, Pesticide Contamination of Farm Water Supplies (Order No. 00-099).

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Related Links

• Publication 75, Guide to Weed Control
• Publication 812, Field Crop Protection Guide
• PMRA website

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