Large-scale farms using Agvets must have accreditation. So do those involved in the commercial distribution of farm chemicals. Talk to Countryco Ag to know the legal framework for using farm chemicals, accreditation requirements, and what you must do to comply.

You need a face-to-face training session if you aren't sure how to handle or store chemicals for agriculture and animals on the farm. You'll learn how to keep, move, and use the chemicals correctly.

Your goal should be to cut chemical hazards' effects on your health and the health of those around you. The benefit of this chemical storage training is that it significantly reduces farming costs of injuries.



Anyone who uses herbicides, insecticides, or other farm chemicals will find this post helpful. Spray controllers and those who use chemicals to get rid of weeds fall under this category. Organisations that protect wildlife will find the units on animal chemical handling helpful.

Notably, domestic users in subsistence farming should also consider this training.

This post curates guidelines on chemical transportation and safety. It also informs you why it is essential for you and other farmworkers to take the chemical safety course. Most importantly, you get a sneak peek at all the units you should expect to cover after enrolling.

How should people in the farming industry transport chemicals to their facilities?

People in the farming industry must adhere to QLD and New South Wales guidelines on chemical transportation and safety. One of the most important requirements is to have a Material Safety Data Sheet describing the chemicals you carry, which should be attached to an invoice.

The team handling the transfer should wear protective equipment during the process. Workers should know the chemicals they are handling and be familiar with transferring equipment.

Let's see some chemical transportation and safety guidelines.

• During the Agvets transfer, drive steadily on the highway and secure the chemical vats with a safety chain and a safety clip on the hitch pin.
• In addition, secure the tins or drums holding the chemicals so that they don't spill or move about during the transfer.
• Most chemical-related mishaps occur during the transfer process. Enlist a licensed driver who is well-versed in handling emergencies, one who has been trained on chemical transportation and safety.
• Accompany large chemical farm consignments with proper road signage and proper protective equipment.
• Do not move farm chemicals from one location to another in an enclosed cabin with passengers and the driver.
• Keep food, water, seeds, and animal feeds away from chemicals during transportation.
• Ensure you have a written record of all chemicals you're transporting and keep a log of what is in and out of stock.
• If you can find substitutes for dangerous farm chemicals, use the less hazardous chemical alternatives.

Why is it essential to learn chemical safety?

Chemical safety training encompasses proper storage and repercussions of chemical misuse. It minimises health risks associated with Agvet chemicals handling, transportation, and storage. To a large extent, it promotes a safer work environment for farm workers and the community.

Chemical exposure can cause various short-term and long-term health effects like headaches, poisoning, respiratory illnesses, and cancers-especially skin cancer. Other effects are burns and a series of congenital disabilities.

You should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling chemicals. PPEs include a long-sleeved heavy-duty shirt with long arms. Others are protective eyewear, rubber gloves, waterproof boots, and respirators.

One hazardous Agvet is anhydrous ammonia, an ingredient in certain agricultural chemicals. Since anhydrous ammonia doesn't contain any water, it quickly reacts with any moisture it comes into contact with.

Crops and plants benefit significantly from this, as it immediately combines with the moisture in the soil to stimulate growth. In contrast, getting into our eyes, skin, or mucous membranes can cause severe burns and dehydration.

Also, anhydrous ammonia boils at -28 degrees Fahrenheit. So, to keep it in a liquid state, you need to store it carefully. Handle it under high pressure with well-built and well-maintained machinery.

You learn how to keep a record of all chemicals in your store and to have them labelled. Keep chemicals in safe lockable spaces. All your MSDSs (Material Safety Data Sheets) should be easily accessible, and you should be checking them regularly to ensure they are up to date.

The training is a statutory requirement for those who come into contact with chemicals in one way or another. It helps keep the environment safe and uncontaminated. Experts will tell you chemicals must have labels and proper spraying etiquette.

Initial labelling must remain as it is. A trained farm worker knows not to spray when there is a strong wind. That's because the possibility of the spray floating over a dam or the farmhouse is high.

Also, the water used to clean spray gear shouldn't run into water bodies human beings or livestock use. Neither should you leave empty chemical containers all over. Further, it would be best if you annually inspected all equipment for safety.

In addition, you learn guidelines on transportation and the safety of hazardous chemicals.

People who use chemicals at home, including farm chemicals, face the same risks. They often don't know what will happen if they make a mistake or use too much.

So, knowing what to do and what not to do when working with chemicals is essential.

Getting accreditation is not a legal requirement if you use chemicals at home. You don't need to have an ACDC License. Still, chemical safety training is critical.

What will the chemical handling training cover?

Countryco Ag chemical accreditation course is quite comprehensive. It will inform you on how to store and transfer chemicals safely.

The units include pest control and integrated pest management. You will learn resistance to farm chemicals and formulations of farm chemicals.

They get into the details of labelling and Safety Data Sheets of farm chemicals, not forgetting the side effects of chemicals on health and first aid. CPR and first aid concerning agricultural and veterinary chemicals are also part of the course.

You'll also learn the use of personal protective equipment in the farm scenario for different chemicals and how to wear them well.

Other points you’ll learn refer to:

• Farm residue and breakdown of farm chemicals.
• Risk management of farm chemicals.
• Bookkeeping.
• Minimising drift and reducing contamination in the environment.
• How to calibrate farm equipment.
• Applying animal chemicals and crop spraying techniques.
• How to calibrate animal chemical application equipment.

Most importantly, you cover statutory requirements that you must adhere to when handling, storing and moving farm chemicals from one location to another.

Conclusion

Chemical storage training and how to safely transfer farm chemicals from one place to another will help you get accreditation and licensing.

When adequately informed on handling, transferring and storing chemicals, you protect yourself and others from life-threatening health risks. You also minimise injuries and protect the environment.

Need chemical storage training to help you learn how to store and transport chemicals safely?

Call us today to book your training session .