In planning a pesticide security program, which step should come first?

• A. Inventory audit.
• B. Employee training.
• C. Physical security upgrades.
• D. Risk assessment.

Answer: (D)

Starting with risk assessment means identifying what could go wrong, which pesticides are most valuable or attractive to misuse, who might access them, and what the consequences would be if something happened. This step reveals the actual vulnerabilities and helps you prioritize protections. Once the risks are known, you shape the rest of the program around them: you determine what needs to be inventoried and monitored, tailor employee training to address the specific threats, and decide which physical security upgrades will effectively reduce the identified risks. Without a risk assessment, you might spend time and money on measures that don’t target the real weaknesses or miss critical gaps. The other components are important, but they should be guided by the risk picture you establish at the start.