What chemicals are on a typical farm?
Think beyond sprays. Fuel, motor oil, solvents, cleaning products, disinfectants, fertilizers, animal treatments, paints and welding supplies all count. Each has its own risks, from skin burns to fumes to fire.
Make a simple list of every chemical product you keep. It is a first step toward safer handling.
A short list kept on the inside of a cupboard door or a shop wall makes it easy to remember what you have. Add a note on when it was bought and what it is used for.
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Fuels, oils and solvents
- Fertilizers and soil products
- Cleaners, disinfectants and animal products
How do you read a label and safety data sheet?
The label is the first line of defense. It tells you what the product is, how to use it, what protective gear is needed and what to do in an emergency. Safety data sheets provide more detail on hazards, handling and first aid.
Read both before using a new product, not after something goes wrong. Keep the sheets where you can find them, and where responders can too.
Safety data sheets are available from the manufacturer or dealer for most products. Keep paper copies where you can grab them, since your phone may not work in the barn.
What protective gear do you need?
The label states what is required, which may include gloves, eye protection, long sleeves, boots and a respirator. Choose gear made for chemical work, since ordinary garden gloves or cloth can soak up a product and hold it against skin.
Check gear for holes and wear before each use and replace what is damaged.
If your gear is not rated for the product, it may not protect you. When in doubt, ask the dealer, your extension office or your state agriculture department what type of glove or respirator suits that product.
How should chemicals be stored?
Keep products in their original, labeled containers, in a dry, ventilated, locked place away from living areas, animals, feed, water and children. Store fuels and flammable products separately from products that can feed a fire.
Never pour chemicals into drink bottles or food containers. Mistakes with unlabeled containers lead to poisonings every year.
Chemicals in a feed room, near a water source or in the house are where mistakes happen. Review the layout of your storage once a year and move anything that sits too close to food, feed or children.
- Original labeled containers only
- Locked and out of reach of children
- Separate from feed and water
- Away from heat and open flame
What if there is a spill or exposure?
Act quickly and carefully. Move people away from the area, remove contaminated clothing, and rinse skin or eyes with plenty of clean water as the label advises. Call poison control or 911 for serious exposure, and have the product label ready to read.
Do not try to clean a large spill without knowing what it is. Your local emergency management office, fire department or state agriculture department can advise on spill response.
Keep your phone and the poison control number close, and know the nearest place with running water. Practice where you would flush your eyes if a splash happened in the middle of a job.
How do you dispose of chemicals and empty containers?
Do not dump leftovers on the ground, down a drain or into a well area. Disposal rules differ by state and county, and by product. Contact your county extension office, state department of agriculture or solid waste office for collection programs.
Follow label directions for rinsing and storing empty containers.
Rules differ for hazardous waste, pesticide containers and used oil. Do not guess. A single call to your county office can save you from a fine or a contaminated well.
How do you keep the whole household safe?
Share the basics with everyone who lives or works on the farm. Post the poison control number and your address near the phone, keep an eyewash bottle in the work area and talk about what to do if someone feels sick after handling a product.
Children and pregnant family members can be more sensitive. Ask a doctor about specific concerns.
Teenage workers and visiting relatives are at higher risk because they know less about what is in each container. Brief them before every task, and supervise until they are confident.
- Post the poison control number
- Keep an eyewash bottle handy
- Wash hands before eating or drinking
- Launder work clothes apart from family laundry
Key takeaways
- Know every chemical you keep and read each label and safety data sheet.
- Wear the protective gear the label calls for.
- Store products in labeled, locked, ventilated spaces.
- Rinse skin or eyes and call poison control or 911 after serious exposure.
- Ask local agencies about spills and disposal.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.