NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
November 9, 2000
Farmers who use anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks should take time to inspect them for safety, according to a North Dakota State University agricultural safety specialist.
"Nurse tanks usually are filled by the fertilizer dealer and hauled by the farmer to the field. Any particular nurse tank may pass through the hands of several producers in a single season, with very little turn-around time between producers," notes George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service.
"Because it’s your life and health that may be at risk, you need to accept the responsibility for inspecting the tank and taking precautions when you use it," Maher says. "Anhydrous ammonia is dangerous and must be handled with care and respect. Careful inspection and use of equipment is a very important step. Skipping this inspection may result in a trip to the local emergency room."
Many people will have short-term responsibility for that nurse tank in a given season. The nurse tank is subject to all kinds of use and abuse, with very little accountability. "Tanks are usually inspected by the dealer's employee before refilling, but that is done under short time constraints. Those employees work under pressure too," Maher says.
Every anhydrous ammonia tank must have a safety kit on it, he notes. There must be ammonia-safe rubber gloves and unvented, ammonia-safe goggles in every kit. A five gallon water reservoir should be present on each anhydrous ammonia tank for first aid flushing of an ammonia exposure only. It must be full of clean water before you accept the unit.
Locking hitch pins must be used every time anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks are towed. "Pulling a nurse tank back and forth across the field without safety-clipping or locking the hitch pin is inviting a breakaway accident to happen," Maher says. He advises chaining the locking hitch pin to the wagon tongue to be sure of its availability.
Safety chains are required by law. They should be easy to connect and long enough to permit adequate turning when towing the nurse tank.
The tires and wheels of the nurse tank wagon are subject to heavy wear and tear. Check for proper inflation, general wear, cuts and excessive weathering. Look for missing lug nuts and bolts.
Give the wagon frame, tank and structural components a general inspection, Maher says. Check for dents, gouges and corrosion on the tank. Be sure the frame is straight and without broken or cracked welds.
Inspect all hoses before taking a nurse tank from the dealer and request repairs if necessary. Check for abrasion, cuts, soft spots, blisters, slippage at the couplings, and kinks or flat spots from being driven on. All anhydrous ammonia hoses with an outside diameter of more than half an inch must be marked with the manufacturer's name or trademark, year of manufacture, maximum working pressure and "anhydrous ammonia."
"Whenever a nurse tank is being pulled on the road or in the field, be sure someone else knows where you are going," Maher suggests. "If you don't show up on time, they will be prompted to check on your whereabouts and safety."
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Source: George Maher, (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629