Ensure that you know how to deal with incidents involving pesticides or biocides. Incidents include:
- spills of pesticides or biocides to the environment
- adverse reactions due to exposure to pesticides or biocides, eg respiratory problems
- pets or wild animals being poisoned due to irresponsible or illegal use of pesticides or biocides.
Prepare for pollution incidents
Have a pollution incident response procedure in place for dealing with spills. Make sure that your staff are familiar with the procedure and know how to implement it. If you store lots of pesticides or biocides, for example if you have a warehouse, you may need to install a spill alarm so that you can evacuate the building when there is a spill.
PPG 21 Pollution incident response planning (Adobe PDF - 112KB)
Keep a spill kit nearby
Ensure that you have absorbent materials such as sand or cat litter and other containment equipment suitable for the type and quantity of pesticides and biocides you store and use on your site. Keep them close to where you might need them. Make sure that your staff know where they are and how to use them.
Try to prevent liquid spills from entering drains or watercourses. For example, use earth to block the flow of large spills, or use sand or a commercial spill kit to soak them up.
You should never hose down a spill, as you could cause a much worse pollution incident. If you store pesticides or biocides in a vehicle, you should also carry a spill kit suitable for the quantity and type of chemicals you have.
Use bunds and drip trays
Store all pesticides and biocides in an area where you can contain spills. This should be on or within a secondary containment system (SCS) such as:
- an impermeable bunded area
- a bunded pallet or spill pallet
- a sump pallet
- a bunded storage unit
- a drip tray.
Your bund and any bunded pallets should be able to contain at least 110% of the volume of the largest tank or 25% of the total volume likely to be stored, whichever is greater.
You should also use drip trays to catch any spills from fill pipes or draw off pipes. Check drip trays regularly to make sure they are clean and empty, and have the capacity to contain spills.
Follow the guidance in the codes of practice
The codes of practice provide information on emergency plans for spills, contamination and fire.
Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD): Code of Practice for using plant protection products (England and Wales)
Scottish Government: Code of Practice for using plant protection products in Scotland
DARDNI: Code of good agricultural practice (Northern Ireland)
Prevent environmental damage
Water pollution can be classed as environmental damage in some circumstances.
You must prevent and remedy environmental damage that occurs from water pollution caused by your business activities. If anyone else reports environmental damage as a result of your activities, your enforcing authority will have to investigate. For more information see our guidance on environmental damage.
Report pollution incidents
Report pollution incidents as soon as they happen to the environmental regulators’ UK-wide incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Incidents involving humans
If you suspect that your health has been adversely affected by pesticides or biocides you should report it to the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) either by contacting your local office or phoning 0845 345 0055.
England, Scotland and Wales
Health and Safety Executive (HSE): Reporting incidents of exposure to pesticides and veterinary medicines (Adobe PDF - 457KB)
Northern Ireland
HSENI: Notification to HSENI or District Council on pesticide incidents (Adobe PDF - 160KB)
Wildlife incidents
If you suspect wildlife has been harmed by an incident involving pesticides or biocides you should contact the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS).
To report suspected incidents call 0800 321600 (calls are free).
Further information on wildlife incidents
England and Wales
CRD: Incidents involving pesticides and animals (Adobe PDF - 402KB)
Northern Ireland
Contact the Department of Agricultural and Rural Development (DARDNI) for more information on wildlife incidents in Northern Ireland.
Contact DARDNI
Scotland
Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture: Wildlife incident investigation scheme
In this guideline:
What are pesticides and biocides?
What do pesticide and biocide suppliers need to do?
What do pesticide and biocide users need to do?
Approval of pesticides and biocides
Disposing of pesticides and biocides
How to deal with incidents involving pesticides and biocides
Pesticides and biocides further information
Pesticides and biocides legislation
