A fresh warning has been issued about storing pesticides safely, after a West Norfolk pest controller was prosecuted for keeping them in an unlocked garden shed.

Natural England and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued the joint alert after Andrew Bray, who carries out rabbit and fox control on farms across West Norfolk, was fined £1,000 over two pesticide offences.

Workers who use pesticides are now being warned they risk being prosecuted if they fail to follow the law for storing them safely.

Norfolk police officers found nine pesticide containers of aluminium phosphide when they searched Mr Bray's home in Heacham, where he lived with his young son, on 9 January 2012. Aluminium phosphide is a moisture-activated gassing compound, which produces a very toxic gas that can be deadly.

Eight of the containers held Luxan Talunex, which is no longer authorised for storage and use in the UK, and the other one held Rentokil Phostoxin. The pesticides had not been stored in a metal or fire-resistant cabinet and there was no warning sign on the unlocked shed.

Some of the containers had been opened and resealed after use - a practice which could have led to the release of a dangerous gas if they had come into contact with water. The labels on many of the containers were also decayed and difficult to read.

Natural England's Wildlife Management Senior Specialist, Dr Ed Blane, commented,"This case underlines the importance of correctly storing fumigant pesticides and the need to dispose of products which have lost their approval. People have died as a result of unsafe storage and use of fumigant products.

"Anyone who uses or stores these products must be properly trained. There is no excuse for storing such toxic pesticides in the manner found in this case. Products which are no longer approved should be correctly disposed of."

HSE served an enforcement notice on Mr Bray requiring the disposal of eight containers of Luxan Talunex and one of Rentokil Phostoxin, following the police search of his property.

Elaine Close, from the Chemicals Regulation Directorate at HSE, added,"Pesticides are needed to control pests and weeds, but they can also be highly dangerous to people and the environment if used or stored incorrectly. That is why there are strict controls in place over their sale, storage and use.

"It is up to everyone who is involved with pesticides to ensure that they are used safely and effectively, and that they are stored correctly.

"Some products, like aluminium phosphide, require extra special measures to ensure they are stored safely and, once opened, the content of the container should be used up and never resealed or kept for future use.

"It is unacceptable for these potentially-deadly pesticides to be stored in an unlocked garden shed without a warning sign. They should be locked away safely in a suitable cabinet. Otherwise, lives could be put at risk."

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