It is important to know basic guidelines for handling chemicals safely and to follow these guidelines daily.
  •   Store swimming pool chemicals properly in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.
Heat or small amounts of water reacting with a chemical can cause fumes and/or a fire. Proper storage is important to reduce any buildup of chemical fumes. It is best to store pool chemicals in an area solely dedicated to them. If the pool chemicals cannot be stored in a completely separate area, you should use a locked ventilated cabinet labeled “Pool Chemicals ONLY!”

Store pool chemicals away from children. Always keep chemical containers closed when not in use. Replace caps and lids on the proper containers. Do not stack pool chemical containers on top of each other.
  •   Follow label directions carefully.
When using pool chemicals, read the label and follow the directions exactly. Use quantities specified on the packaging.
If you don’t know what the chemical is, how old it is, or you can’t read the instructions for proper use, don’t use the chemical. Contact your chemical manufacturer for directions to properly dispose of the chemical.
  • Add chemicals to plenty of pool water.
Chemicals should be applied directly to the pool water through an appropriate feeder or distributed across the surface of the water according to manufacturer’s directions.
When adding liquid chemicals to water, hold the container close to the water surface so it won’t splash on skin or clothes. Sprinkle granulated products close to the water surface so they won’t be blown into your face or away from the water.
  •  Avoid mixing or contaminating pool chemicals.
Do not mix any chemicals together, unless the instructions on the container direct you to do so. Mixing or contaminating may cause chemical reactions, resulting in fire, release of toxic fumes, and/or explosion.
Do not mix containers. Even rinsed out, a container used yesterday for lawn fertilizer may act in response dangerously with some pool chemical products.

Never pour water onto pool chemicals. Always use an oversized, clean plastic container. Always pour chemical slowly into a large quantity of pool water.
  •  Dispose of wastes and spills safely.
Immediately clean up and properly dispose of any chemical spills. If the spilled chemical is a solid, carefully sweep it up using a clean broom and shovel, and place it in a clean, dry plastic container. Avoid breathing the dust. If possible, dilute the chemical in clean water and add it to the pool.

If the spilled chemical is a liquid, it should be soaked up with absorbent materials and placed in a clean plastic or plastic-lined container. Avoid contact with the skin. The area should be flushed with large amounts of clean water.

MOST IMPORTANTLY PLEASE NEVER SMOKE AROUND CHEMICALS. SMOKING CAN CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.