Ohio farmers use a variety of chemicals to aid in the production of various commodities. When used correctly with adequate personal protection, these chemicals pose little if any threat to the farmer. Similarly, under normal circumstances, agricultural chemicals pose virtually no threat to the surrounding community or the consumers of treated farm products. One potential concern occurs when some of these chemicals are transported on public highways.
In the event of a traffic accident involving a vehicle carrying a hazardous material, there is a clear and imminent danger to the operator, emergency response teams and the surrounding community if these materials spill or catch fire. For this reason the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) developed a system for rapid identification of these materials by emergency response teams. Certain specified hazardous materials require that placards, which readily identify the hazard, be placed on four sides of the vehicle transporting materials in quantities in excess of one thousand pounds (there are some exceptions that require placarding regardless of the amount). Furthermore, shipping papers (shipping orders, bills of lading, manifest or other shipping documents) must accompany the hazardous materials being transported.
Accessibility of shipping papers is important to emergency crews. By placing papers in areas prescribed by DOT, papers will be readily retrievable in case of an accident or emergency. Papers should be carried in a separate hazardous materials envelope, readily visible and within the drivers reach when restrained by a seat belt, or they should be in a pouch on the driver's door. When the driver is not in the vehicle, the papers should be placed in the door pouch or on the driver's seat.
In the state of Ohio, materials being transported to and from the farm are exempt from Ohio Public Utilities Commission jurisdiction. However, farmers may be covered under federal regulations. In the case of an accident, farmers may be held liable if they have not included shipping papers or properly placarded a load of hazardous material. Contact legal counsel for specifics of your potential liability.
Emergency responders in rural areas are often volunteer fire fighters, local sheriff deputies or the highway patrol. When responding to an accident or emergency, these individuals are trained to look for DOT placarding and hazardous material shipping papers. Loads of hazardous materials either not placarded or improperly placarded could put the lives of these individuals and the vehicle operator in jeopardy. This may result in rescue delay, loss of life and significant increase in costs.
The table on the back of this sheet contains important DOT identification information on 32 of the most commonly used pesticides in the state of Ohio. The chemicals are listed in alphabetical order of the trade name. Some of the more common brand names are also listed. Contact your agricultural chemical dealer for a copy of the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for verification of the information listed here or if you are unable to locate a particular chemical.
| Trade Name* | Common Name | Reportable Quanity (RQ)** | Shipping Name | Hazard Class | ID # | Placarding Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,4-D | Envert®Brand 171 Woody Plant Herbicde | Yes, In quanties in excess of 100 lbs/package | Compound, tree or weed killing, solid | Oxidizer | NA1479 | Oxidizer |
| Formula 40® Brand Herbicide | Yes, In quanties in excess of 177 lbs/package | Compound, tree or weed killing, liquid, n.o.s. (2,4-D Salt) | Combustible Liquid | NA1993 | Combustible | |
| Alachlor | Lasso®II | No | Weed killing compound, n.o.i.b.n. | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Yes, In quanties >= 370 lbs/package | Compound, weed killing, liquid (chlorobenzene) | Combustible Liquid | NA1993 | Combustible | ||
| Anhydrous Ammonia | Anhydrous Ammonia | Yes, In quanties from containers larger than 10 lbs | Anhydrous Ammonia | Non-Flammable Gas | UN 1005 | Non-Flammable Gas |
| Atrazine | Aatrex | No | Compound, Weed Killing (Herbicide), n.o.s. | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Basagran | Bentazon | No | Compounds, tree or weed killing, n.o.i. (herbicides) | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Blazer | Acifluorfen | No | Compounds, tree or weed killing, n.o.i. (herbicides) | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Butylate | Sutan, Genate (tank truck) | No | Compound, weed killing, liquid (calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate) | Combustable Liquid | NA1993 | Combustible |
| Carbaryl | Sevin®Brand 4-Oil Carbaryl | Yes, In quanties >= 100 lbs/package | Combustible liquid, n.o.s. | Combustible Liquid | NA 1993 | Combustible |
| Sevin (All Other) | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None | ||
| Carbofuran | Furadan®3G Insecticide | No (except for "super sacks" of 1500 lbs) | Hazardous Substance, solid, n.o.s. (carbofuran) | ORM-E | NA9188 | None |
| Furadan 4 Flowable (Mobay) | Yes, All sizes | Carbofuran mixture, liquid | Posion B | NA2757 | Poison | |
| Furadan (all other) | No | Insecticide, n.o.i., other than poison (NMFC Item 102120) | None | None | None | |
| Chlorpyrifos | Lorsban, Dursban | Yes, All sizes | Chlorpyrifos (solution, mixture) | ORM-A | NA2783 | None |
| Command | Clomazone | Yes, In quanties of 1000 gals or more | Compound, weed killing, liquid (contains xylene and 1-butanol) | Combustible Liquid | NA 1993 ERG Guide 27 (Combustible liquid, n.o.s.) | Combustible |
| Cyanazine | Bladex | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Diazinon® | D.Z.N® Diazinon | Yes, All sizes | Insecticides or Fungicides, Agricultural , N.O.S. | Diazinon Mixture ORM-A | NA 2783 | None |
| Knox-Out | Yes, All sizes | Hazardous Substance, liquid, NOS (Diazinon)® | ORM-E | NA9199 | None | |
| Dicamba | Banvel | No | Hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s. (2,4-D salts and esters dicamba) | ORM-E | NA9188 | None |
| Dimethoate | Cygon, Defend | No, in quanties <=;110 gals/container | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| No, in quanties <=;110 gals/container | Insecticide, Liquid, n.o.s. (Dimethoate in cyclohexanone) | Combustible Liquid | NA1993 | Combustible | ||
| EPTC | Eptam | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Fonofos | Dyfonate | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Glyphosate | Roundup | No | Weed Killing Compound, n.o.i.b.n. | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Linuron | Lorox, Linex | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Malathion | Cythion | Yes, All sizes | Malathion | ORM-A | NA2783 | None |
| Metolachlor | Dual | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Metribuzin | Sencor, Lexone | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Naptalam/Dinoseb | Alanap, Dynap, Dinitro | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Paraquat | Paraquat CL, Gramoxone | Yes, All sizes | Bipyridylnium pesticide, liquid, n.o.s. | Posion B | UN 2781 | Posion |
| Parathion | Parathion, Penn Cap M (Tank Truck) | Yes | Hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s. (Methyl parathion) | ORM-E | NA9188 | None |
| Parathion, Penn Cap M (other) | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None | |
| Pendimethalin | Prowl® 4E | Yes, All sizes | Weed Killing Compound, liquid | Flammable Liquid | NA1993 | Flammable |
| Prowl 60 DG Herbicide | No | Weed Killing Compound, n.o.i. | Not Regulated | None | None | |
| Phorate | Thimet | Yes, All sizes | Organic phosphorus compound mixture, dry | Poison B | NA2783 DOT-E-9277 | Poison |
| Pursuit | Pursuit | No | Weed Killing Compound, n.o.i. liquid | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Simazine | Princep | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Surflan | Oryzalin | No | Not DOT Regulated | Not Regulated | None | None |
| Terbufos | Counter, Lockn' Load[TM] | Yes, In quanties >100 lbs/container | Organophosphate, solid, toxic, n.o.s. (Terbufos) | Poison B | UN2783 | Poison |
| Counter 15G | Organophosphate, solid, toxic, n.o.s. (Terbufos) | Poison B | NA 2783 | Poison | ||
| Trifluralin | Treflan | Yes, All sizes | Compound, weed killing, liquid (xylene) | Combustible | NA1993 | Combustible |
| * Use of trade names are for educational purposes only. No endorsements is intended or implied.
**Reporting Quanty (in pounds), which is applicable for accidental releases. The RQ must appear on the shipping papers. | ||||||
Funded in whole or in part from Grant Number U05/CCU506070-02, "Cooperative Agreement Program for Agricultural Health Promotion Systems," National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Review by Drs. Randall Wood and Tom Carpenter
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868