Which fertilizers carry which risks?
Dry granular products, liquid and gas forms and manure each pose different hazards. Some can burn skin or eyes, some give off irritating dust, some react with other materials, and some release harmful gases in enclosed spaces.
Read the label and safety data sheet for each product. Check with your extension office if you are unsure what you have.
Some fertilizers are classed as hazardous in large amounts and storage can be subject to local rules. If you hold a lot, tell your fire department what is stored and where.
- Dust and skin or eye irritation
- Spills that reach water
- Reactions with fuels or other chemicals
- Gases from manure storage
How should you store fertilizer?
Store products in a dry, clean, well-ventilated building away from living areas, wells, drains and ponds. Keep them away from fuels, oils and other materials the label warns about. Keep bags off the floor and protect them from moisture.
Do not store more than you can use, and keep out children and animals. Your local fire department can advise on safe layout and what to tell responders.
Moisture makes many dry fertilizers cake and can make them harder to handle. A dry, sound building keeps product usable and safer to work around.
What protective gear should you wear?
Wear gloves, eye protection and long sleeves when handling fertilizer, and a dust mask or respirator suited to the product when the dust is heavy. Wash exposed skin with soap and water at the end of the job.
Avoid touching your face with dirty gloves, and keep food and drink away from the work area.
Keep a pair of dedicated work gloves and boots for fertilizer jobs. If product gets inside a glove or boot, take it off and wash the skin rather than finishing the job.
What about spills and runoff?
Sweep up dry spills promptly and keep them out of ditches, drains and wells. For liquid spills, contain them and call the product dealer, your state agriculture department or your local emergency office for what to do.
Applying more than a crop can use wastes money and can wash into water. Soil tests, guided by your extension office, help you apply what is actually needed.
Runoff after heavy rain is a common cause of water pollution. Avoid applying before a storm, keep a buffer next to streams and ditches and ask your conservation district about practices that fit your land.
- Sweep up promptly
- Keep out of wells and ditches
- Call local officials for large spills
- Soil test before applying
What are the manure gas risks?
Manure pits and tanks can release gases that are harmful or deadly, especially when the manure is stirred. People have died entering or leaning over pits, and rescuers have died trying to save them. Never enter without trained help and proper equipment.
Keep children away from storage and ask your extension office about safe practices for agitating and emptying.
Never work alone near manure storage. Mark the pit clearly, keep covers secured and make sure fans and ventilation are used as your extension office describes before any agitation.
What should you do after exposure?
Rinse skin and eyes with clean water, move to fresh air if gases or dust are an issue and call poison control or 911 if the person feels ill. Tell the responders what product was involved.
Keep the label or safety data sheet handy so staff can read it to the poison center.
If someone collapses near a pit or tank, call 911 and do not go in after them. Rescuers need special equipment, and many deaths happen when a second person goes in without it.
How do you plan for equipment and application safety?
Check spreaders, tanks and lines for leaks. Calibrate so you know what you apply. Keep people and animals away during application and check the weather, since wind and rain affect where product goes.
Keep a log of what was applied and when. Your extension office can help with a nutrient plan.
Keep your application equipment tuned, clean and calibrated. Small errors in rate add up to large waste and unnecessary risk.
- Check hoses and fittings
- Watch wind and rain
- Keep records of what you applied
- Clean equipment where rinse water cannot reach water sources
Key takeaways
- Learn the hazards of each fertilizer you use.
- Store dry, ventilated and away from fuels and water.
- Wear gloves, eye protection and a dust mask suited to the product.
- Never enter manure pits or confined spaces without trained help.
- Soil test and ask your extension office before applying.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.