February doesn’t seem to have a lot going for it. It’s that bridge month that comes after all the hoopla of the holidays but before the first true hint of spring. Fortunately, it’s a short month. Bet you didn’t know this about February – it’s also National Pesticide Safety Education Month. So, as pest management professionals, we want to do our part to make sure you are being as safe as you can be when using or storing pesticides.

This is just part of a safety quiz provided by pesticide stewardship.org. How do you score?

• Do you read the label of a pesticide product before you buy it to make sure it suits your needs and that you have the proper equipment?
• Do you read the entire label when preparing to apply the pesticide, and do you follow the label directions during application?
• Are your pesticides stored in a dry, secure area away from heat sources and where children and pets cannot reach them?
• Are you careful not to store pesticides near food, animal feed, or medical supplies?
• Do you keep all pesticides in their original containers with the label present and the containers tightly closed?
• Do you measure or mix pesticides outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, away from children, pets, toys, and food?
• Are you careful not to mix pesticides near wellheads, storm drains, or bodies of water?
• Do you wear the protective clothing and equipment required by the pesticide label such as long pants, long-sleeved shirt, or non-absorbent gloves?
• Do you have kitty litter or other absorbent material handy in case of a liquid pesticide spill?
• Are you careful not to apply pesticides to flowering plants when pollinators such as bees are present?
• After applying a pesticide, are you careful to wash your gloves with soap and water before taking them off, and do you rinse off your boots outside?
• When you don’t want to deal with all the responsibilities that come with pesticide use, do you hire a certified professional?

For more on different aspects of using pesticides safely, check out a few of our other blogs:

• Keep Your Children Safe From Household Pesticides
• Protect Your Pets When Using Pesticides
• Why You Should Read the Product Label
• How to Dispose of Old Pesticides – Advice From EPA