When two pesticides have different signal words, the mixture should be treated as the more hazardous signal word.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not sure

Answer: (A)

When pesticides are mixed, the level of risk you protect against should reflect the higher hazard indicated by the signal words. The signal word on a label shows acute toxicity potential, so if two products have different signal words, the mixture could present at least the higher level of danger. Treating the mixture as the more hazardous signal word ensures you use the appropriate PPE, application methods, and handling precautions for the worst-case scenario. Choosing a less cautious approach could leave you exposed to greater risk, and assuming the hazard is only the lower level isn’t safe. If in doubt, always follow the label and safety data sheets for the combination, but the standard practice is to default to the higher hazard.