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Safe Storage of Farm Chemicals

Most chemical poisonings of children involve products that were within reach. Storage is the one place where a simple habit can prevent a serious harm.

Why does storage matter so much?

A child cannot read a label or judge a risk. A product left on a shelf, a bucket or a tailgate can be reached in seconds. Storage that depends on children obeying a rule is not enough, because young children do not reliably follow rules.

Locked, out-of-reach storage works because it does not require memory or judgment on anyone's part.

The EPA publishes official information on pesticide storage and the CDC on poison prevention. Check their current pages. A good test is to imagine the most curious toddler you know in your yard for ten minutes. Anything they could reach, open or carry away needs a better place.

Where should chemicals be stored?

Choose a separate, locked room, cabinet or building away from where people live, children play, and food, feed or water is kept. Do not store chemicals in the house or in a space attached to it unless official guidance allows.

Label requirements, local fire rules and state regulations may affect where and how you store products. Do not rely on memory. Check the product label and ask your state agriculture department or extension office.

Keep fuel, fertilizer and pesticides in line with their own requirements. Fire codes, insurance requirements and local zoning can also affect where chemicals and fuels may be kept. Ask your local fire department about what applies in your area.

• Locked and separate from living spaces
• Away from food, feed and water
• Away from heat sources and ignition risks
• Checked against the product label and local rules

How should containers be handled?

Keep every product in its original container with the label readable. Never transfer chemicals to food, drink or unmarked containers, since this is a common cause of accidental poisoning.

If a label is damaged, ask the manufacturer or your extension office for guidance instead of guessing what is inside. Do not reuse containers for any other purpose.

Close lids tightly after each use, and check for leaks. Keep a stock of leak-proof secondary containers or trays, as the label or manufacturer advises, so that a leaking container does not spread. Ask your extension office what suits your products.

How do I keep locks and keys effective?

A lock only helps if it is used every time. Make locking up the last step of any chemical task, and keep keys with an adult, not hanging near the door.

Check the building or cabinet itself. Can a child climb in through a window, slip under a gap or open a flimsy latch? Strengthen weak points.

Share the rule with workers and relatives, and ask them to lock up too. Think about copies of keys, shared codes and spare locks. Each one is a way for a child to get in, so keep track of them and change codes when people leave the farm.

Why keep an inventory?

A simple list of what you have, where it is and how old it is helps you spot items that should be disposed of. Old products can be harder to identify and may be more hazardous. Keep safety data sheets and labels accessible.

Reduce what you hold by buying only what you will use. Ask your state or county about programs for disposing of unwanted pesticides, and do not pour them down drains or bury them.

Review the inventory at least once a year. Never store or discard old products in a barn corner thinking you will deal with them later. Unlabeled or unknown products in particular should be handled with expert advice, not guesswork.

What about spills and emergencies?

Have a plan before there is a spill. Know who to call, what the label and safety data sheet say, and where the nearest phone is. For a spill that could affect people, animals or water, call local authorities or emergency services, and keep children and animals away.

For exposure of a person, call 911 for severe symptoms, or Poison Control for other cases. Have the label in hand when you call.

Do not attempt cleanup beyond what the label and safety data sheet advise. Post emergency contact numbers on the outside of the storage area, so that anyone who finds a spill or an exposure can act immediately. In an emergency, call 911.

How can my family build the habit?

Walk through the storage area with everyone who uses it. Agree on the rules for locking, labeling and returning products. Post a short checklist on the inside of the door.

Include children in age-appropriate ways, such as teaching them that the building is off limits and why. Do not give them keys.

Ask AgriSafe, your extension office or your state agriculture department for training and checklists. Review everything again when the season changes, since new products arrive and old ones get moved. A quick check each spring and fall is far better than a rare large cleanup.

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