Some of the principles for safe fertilizer storage:
- Provide pallets to keep large drums or bags off
the floor. Shelves for smaller containers should
have a lip to keep the containers from sliding off
easily. Steel shelves are easier to clean than wood
if a spill occurs.
- If you plan to store large bulk tanks, provide a
containment area large enough to confine 125 percent
of the contents of the largest bulk container.
- Keep the building locked and clearly labeled as
a fertilizer storage area. Preventing unauthorized
use of fertilizers reduces the chance of accidental
spills or theft. Labels on the windows and doors of
the building give firefighters information about
fertilizers and other products during an emergency
response to a fire or a spill. It is a good idea to
keep a separate list of the chemicals and amounts
stored. If a fire should occur, consider where the
water will go and where it might collect. For
example, a curb around the floor can help confine
contaminated water.
- Provide adequate road access for deliveries and
use, and in making the storage area secure, also
make it accessible, to allow getting fertilizers and
other chemicals out in a hurry.
- Never store fertilizers inside a wellhouse or a
facility containing an abandoned well.
If you decide to improve your current storage building, applying the above principles can be expensive. However, compared to the cost of a major accident or lawsuit, storage improvements can be a bargain! If that is not practical, consider how you can protect the fertilizers that you keep on hand.
Sound containers are your first line of defense against a spill or leak. If a container is accidentally ripped open or knocked off a shelf, the spill should be confined to the immediate area and promptly cleaned up. The building should have a solid floor and, for liquid fertilizers, a curb. The containment volume should be large enough to hold the contents of the largest full container.
Ideally, the fertilizer storage area should be separate from other activities. If the building must also serve as a machine shed or as livestock housing, you may find it difficult to meet all the requirements for safe storage.