NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
October 7, 1999
Editors: This is the second in a series of six articles on anhydrous ammonia.
Moving anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks on public roads through populated areas and at relatively high speeds can increase the risk of an accident.
"Whoever is driving is entirely responsible for whatever happens to the load being pulled," says George Maher, an agricultural safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service. "Anhydrous ammonia in the nurse tank is highly pressurized, so any accident carries the risk of an uncontrolled release. In the field, an accident that could cause a release is less likely and fewer people are typically at risk. On the road, other motorists and nearby residents could be threatened."
Maher notes that the following regulations and safety precautions can reduce those risks.
Only two anhydrous ammonia nurse tank wagons can be towed legally at any time with either a pickup, farm tractor or truck. They should not be towed faster than 25 miles per hour. Nurse tanks can be moved on public roads only between sunrise and sunset, and a slow moving vehicle sign must always be on display.
Always use safety chains when moving empty or full nurse tanks on the road at speeds faster than 15 miles per hour. The chains must be secure enough so that they don't break if the hitch pin is dislodged and should allow turning without binding.
Often agricultural producers assemble strings of implements and trailers when moving machinery from field to field. When nurse tanks are involved, the complete assembly cannot be longer than 75 feet. Long strings of implements occasionally swerve from side to side while moving down the road -- an extremely dangerous situation if a nurse tank is involved.
Youngsters driving a tractor or motor vehicle and pulling one or two anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks must be at least 14 years old and have a valid driver's license. At age 14 and 15, youngsters can transport nurse tanks only for their parents. The individual must have a valid drivers license and be 16 years old to transport nurse tanks for an employer.
"Think carefully when selecting a person to transport and work with anhydrous ammonia. Inexperience and a lack of responsibility, no matter what the age of the operator, can be deadly when combined with the dangerous nature of anhydrous ammonia," Maher says.
Labels on nurse tanks must be maintained. "ANHYDROUS AMMONIA" must be displayed on both sides, front and rear in green letters two inches or more in height. The nurse tank must display either "NON-FLAMMABLE GAS" or "1500" Department of Transportation placards on both sides and front and back. It must also display "INHALATION HAZARD" on both sides with green letters at least two inches high. All tank valves should be labeled to indicate whether the opening is for liquid or vapor service. Other labels that explain first aid procedures and safety instructions also must be maintained.
Give every nurse tank a safety inspection before you leave the bulk filling facility with it and be sure it has all the safety equipment, including goggles, gloves, and 5 gallons of clean water, Maher says.
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Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629