April 18, 2002

Anhydrous Equipment Needs Frequent Safety Inspections

Faulty anhydrous ammonia equipment is a disaster waiting to happen according to a North Dakota State University agricultural safety specialist. Equipment used in the application of anhydrous ammonia needs a continual safety-check during the application season.

A good place at which to start the inspections is with the personal protective equipment for the handling and application of ammonia. "Gloves and goggles should always be in the safety kit on each nurse tank," says George Mayer of the NDSU Extension Service. "The goggles must be unvented and the gloves must be approved for anhydrous ammonia work. Ammonia will easily pass through the vents of any shop-type or chemical vented goggles, so they are not acceptable."

The five gallon emergency water reservoir should be checked also. It should contain fresh, clean water. Since ammonia will be absorbed by the water over a period of time, the water should be changed daily.

The nurse tank hose is a vital connection between the tank and your field applicator. "Check for kinks, bruises, makeshift repairs, worn spots, and abrasions," Maher says. "The valve body and valve wheel must be in good condition and the bleeder valve has to be usable. The hose should be bled of ammonia properly so it will be safe for you to attach to the applicator. All of the hose parts have a very important job to do when it comes to attaching the tank to your field applicator."

Everyone involved with the sale, service, transport, or application of anhydrous ammonia should carry a five ounce squirt bottle of water. The water should be changed daily to be sure it is not tainted with ammonia when applied to an eye exposed to anhydrous ammonia.

Always carefully check the field applicator to make sure it is ready for use. The breakaway coupler should work properly every time. The hoses to the injector knives need to be properly supported with no droops or sags. The applicator shut-off mechanism must operate reliably. The side reflectors and SMV sign should be clearly visible. The applicator should be securely attached to the tractor by using a safety clip on the hitch pin. Inspect the applicator tires to make sure they are fit for road travel and fieldwork.

"Transporting anhydrous ammonia in nurse tanks can be risky, especially when using tanks from a retail source," Maher says."Rarely do you know who had the tank last and what kind of abuse it may have received. Before leaving the retail source, check the wagon assembly to be sure it is roadworthy. Are there safety chains on the drawbar? Is there a safety clip for the hitch pin? Are the tires properly inflated and in good condition? Do the wheels have all the lug nuts? Is the frame straight and are all the welds secure? Is the nurse tank properly placarded with the SMV sign and other required decals? The person behind the wheel when a nurse tank is being moved on public roads is completely responsible for everything that happens to it."

Inspect your ammonia application equipment frequently during the application season. Using safe equipment and following safe practices is the only way to minimize the risk of anhydrous ammonia exposure and injury, Maher says.

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Source: George Maher, (701) 231-8288, gmaher@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, rmattern@ndsuext.nodak.edu