NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

October 8, 1998

[EDITORS: THIS IS THE FIFTH IN A SERIES OF SIX ARTICLES ON ANHYDROUS AMMONIA SAFTY.]

Safety Equipment Is a Must for Anhydrous Ammonia Work.

A complete checkup may save your life.

You've heard your doctor say it, but now a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer is saying so too. But George Maher is talking about checkups on anhydrous ammonia tank safety kits.

"It is essential that every nurse tank be inspected by the person hauling it from the dealer and out to the field," Maher says. "That safety kit on the tank must be complete. If it is missing any items or if any of the equipment is damaged, it could cost someone their life."

Safety kits on anhydrous ammonia tanks should include:

• Gloves made of rubber, coated with polyvinyl chloride and lined for thermal protection. They must have long gauntlets (cuffs) to be turned back about an inch so drips of ammonia can't run down the arm. The gloves must not have any tears, cuts or holes in them.
• Goggles that are not vented. Any kind of vented goggle should not be used because it will allow anhydrous ammonia to get to the eyes and cause injury. Quality goggles are made of soft vinyl to fit the face and form a seal for more protection.
• Fresh water for first aid flushing. A reservoir on the tank should contain 5 gallons of clean, fresh water. Semi-trailers, nurse tanks and applicator tanks should all have a full reservoir. Don't accept a unit that doesn't have this supply of clean, fresh water. The water will absorb some ammonia over time, so it should be changed daily.

Maher advises keeping a second anhydrous ammonia safety kit on the tractor assigned to ammonia application in the field.

"This second kit is a backup to the kit on the nurse tank. A leak on the nurse tank or applicator may not allow access to the nurse tank kit. A second kit may allow you to resolve problems with less risk," he says.

Also, it is a good practice to have a respirator with an ammonia cartridge in the safety kit on the tractor, Maher adds. The respirator will allow you to escape from an uncontrolled release of anhydrous. The respirator must be National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approvedincluding a 3-M 7254 cartridge or its equivalent.

"Finally, every worker involved with the sale, service, transport or application of anhydrous ammonia should have a squirt bottle of first aid flushing water in their pocket," Maher says. "Five ounces is just enough for the first flushing of anhydrous from the eyes. Change the water daily because ammonia-tainted water is much less effective for first flushing. It just adds insult to injury."

For more information on safety issues relating to anhydrous ammonia applications, refer to "Anhydrous Ammonia: Managing the Risks" (AE1149), a new publication from the NDSU Extension Service available through county Extentsion offices. Or contact Maher at (701) 2318288.

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Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288

Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629