NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
October 14, 1999
Editors: This is the third in a series of six article on anhydrous ammonia safety.
Hurrying With Anhydrous Ammonia May Result in "Dead Stop," Safety Expert
Warns
There's always a sense of hurrying during fall on the farm. With winter weather
imminent, there's a deadline for fall tillage, moving bales, harvesting, applying
anhydrous ammonia and other jobs.
Often it's that hurrying that is a major factor in farm accidents, says George Maher, a
farm safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.
"Handling and applying anhydrous ammonia, in particular, is one job that should not
be rushed. Failure to take your time and follow all safety precautions will catch up to
you and all your hurrying may come to a dead stop."
Maher offers a series of guidelines to ensure safety when working with anhydrous
ammonia:
- When stopping to replace an empty nurse tank, position equipment so you can work upwind
of all connections being made. Locate the nearest water, so you can take an emergency dip
or wash if necessary. Plan an escape route before you begin making connections.
- Always carry a squirt bottle of water in your shirt pocket before you leave the tractor
or pickup truck. If it's not within reach, you will use valuable and painful time looking
for it -- if you can see at all -- when an accident occurs. Replace the water daily to
keep it fresh.
- Before starting to work on equipment, put on all of the basic protective equipment --
long cuff rubber gloves approved for anhydrous ammonia and snug-fitting, non-vented
goggles.
- Think through the process of changing nurse tanks and don't rush. Follow all the
disconnection and reconnection steps in their proper order.
- Remember to completely close the liquid withdrawal valve on the nurse tank first. If it
is not completely closed before disconnecting, the nurse tank hose will remain pressurized
creating a dangerous situation. When connecting the fresh nurse tank to the applicator, be
certain the hose end bleeder valve is closed and the hose end is securely plugged into the
applicator before opening the liquid withdrawal valve on the tank. If you don't, an
uncontrolled release of anhydrous ammonia will occur.
- Do not remove any of the protective equipment, gloves or goggles, until all connections
are made and found to be safe. Then, place the protective equipment back in the nurse tank
kit. If you are wearing your own, store them correctly in the same accessible location
each time so they're ready for use the next time you need them.
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Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629