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Mixing and Loading Pesticides Safely

Mixing and loading is where you handle the most concentrated product, so it is the highest exposure task for many handlers. This guide covers the habits that matter, with the label and your extension office supplying the specifics.

Why is mixing and loading a higher exposure task?

During mixing you handle the product at its most concentrated form. A small splash, a puff of powder or a drip on a glove can carry a larger dose than most of what happens during application.

Because the task is short and familiar, people tend to rush it. Slowing down, setting up first and following a fixed order of steps is a simple way to cut risk.

Many mixing injuries are not dramatic. Over a season, repeated small contacts add up to a larger total exposure, and that is one reason experienced handlers treat each small drip as worth cleaning up immediately.

• Read the label's mixing directions before you open anything.
• Never eat, drink or smoke while mixing.
• Wash hands and face before any break and again at the end.

What should I do before I open the container?

Read the label again, including the mixing directions and the protective equipment statement for mixing and loading. Gather what you need, such as measuring tools, clean water and spill supplies, before you put on gloves.

Choose a location with good ventilation, a firm and level surface and a place to contain spills. Keep the area clear of children, pets and bystanders, and avoid mixing near wells, ponds, drains or other water.

• Check the label and the weather.
• Put on required protective equipment before opening.
• Confirm equipment is clean and in working order.
• Have clean water and soap within reach.

How do I prevent spills and splashes?

Open containers slowly and pour low and close to the tank opening. Use measuring tools that are dedicated to pesticides and never return them to the kitchen. Avoid reaching over an open tank, and never stand upwind of dust or vapors.

If the label gives a specific order for adding products or water, follow it exactly. The sequence can affect how well a mixture works and how safely it behaves.

Keep your face and body positioned so a splash would land on protective gear rather than bare skin. If a container is hard to pour, use a transfer device that the label or manufacturer allows, not a makeshift funnel.

How do I protect the water supply?

Backflow from a sprayer tank into a well or hose can contaminate drinking water. Ask your extension office or state agency about an air gap or other backflow protection suited to your setup, since the right device depends on the equipment and local rules.

Do not fill tanks directly from a stream or pond without confirming local requirements. A mixing and loading pad or a designated area can contain small spills and make cleanup easier.

What if something spills?

Treat spills as a stop-work moment. Keep people away, put the label requirements for cleanup into practice and contain the spill. The separate spill response article on this site covers the general approach, and your state agency or the product label gives the official steps.

If a person is splashed and feels unwell, call 911 in an emergency and keep the label ready for responders.

Practice the spill response before you need it. A short walk-through with the people on your farm, covering who stops work, who calls for help and where the supplies are, takes minutes and makes a real incident calmer.

• Stop work and keep people and animals away.
• Put on the protective equipment the label requires.
• Contain the spill using the steps on the label and from your state agency.
• Report and record what happened, and restock supplies.

How should I handle empty containers and leftovers?

Rinse and handle empty containers as the label directs, and prepare only what you plan to apply so there is little left over. Leftover mixture is a disposal problem and an exposure risk.

Record what you mixed and how much in your application record while it is fresh in your mind.

When a container is emptied during mixing, handle it according to the label right away, since residue is easier to deal with before it dries. Close and secure the rinsed container before you move on to the next task.

Should I work alone?

When possible, have another trained person nearby or at least check in. Tell someone where you are working and when you expect to finish. Keep a phone within reach of the mixing area, and keep poison help information visible.

Fatigue, heat and distraction all lead to mistakes. If you are tired, postpone the task when the label and weather allow.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.