Rash of ammonia incidents prompts appeal

Springfield, Ill.-With accidental releases doubling in 2010 over previous years, the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture is advising farmers to review safety and handling procedures before applying anhydrous ammonia fertilizer to their fields this spring. “If greater attention had been paid to the proper operation of equipment, many of these accidents may have been prevented,” Jim Larkin, chief of the Ag Products Inspection Bureau, stated. “Our investigations show the leading cause of accidents in 2010 was the improper management of ammonia hoses.” That’s why applicators are reminded to follow these rules: inspect hoses prior to each use for cracks, cuts, rubs, and soft spots, as well as slippage near couplers; purge the hose or system prior to inspection; perform regular maintenance on the tool-bar quick-coupler per manufacturer’s recommendations to assure it is suitable for service; visually inspect prior to each use; check to assure hoses are the correct length; always use the safety chains provided on the nurse tank, along with the attached hitch pin and safety clip, to prevent hoses stretching and breaking; before pulling a nurse tank on a roadway, purge toolbar and hoses and secure end valves of the hoses to the parking plugs on the tool-bar and attach safety chains, hitch pin, and safety clip; and drive 25 mph or less. The applicator in control during a release must report promptly to regulatory agencies. “We have definitely seen an increase in enforcement of the reporting regulations from both USEPA and IEPA,” Jean Payne, president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Assn., reported. “There is no penalty for reporting an ammonia release on time, only for not reporting.”