Professional Nutrient

Applicators of Wisconsin

Level 1 Certification

2012

Professional Application Practices

Primary Goal

• Safe Operation– Manure Gasses– Transport– Application

• Public Image• Spill Response

Why is safety important?

• Protect Personnel• Prevent Downtime• Prevent Accidental Spills• Maintain Customer Relations• Maintain Public Relations

Custom Applicators Are In The Public Eye

Agriculture Injury Facts

Agriculture is one of the two most dangerous industries in the US. In 2005: (death rate per 100,000 workers)

– WI farm-related fatality rate was 45 – US agricultural fatality rate was 29.2– US all industry fatality rate was 3.5

Agriculture Injury Facts

In WI 2005 30 farm-related fatalities– Tractors 16– Farm Machines 3– Confined Spaces 2– Falls 3– Trucks/vehicles 1Nationally, Tractors are involved in one-third to one-half of

all fatal farm accidents.

OSHA is focusing on agriculture more

• Businesses with more than 10 employees at any single time of the year can have random inspections.

• The farms you work at are getting safety scrutiny around manure storage.

Safety Concerns• Manure gas is present

throughout the year in decomposing manure.

• Drowning • The main gases are:

– hydrogen sulfide– carbon dioxide– ammonia– methane

Safety Tip:

Test for manure gasses before entering pit areas.

Confined spaces have specific rules!

Agitation precautions• Agitation releases gases and increases the

concentration levels or displaces oxygen

• Tractor Stability - Chocking

Safety Tip:

Keep manure agitators below the liquid’s surface

Manure Gases

• May or may not have odor. • Two gases are lighter than air and two gases

are heavier than air. Methane

Hydrogen sulfide

Ammonia

Carbon Dioxide

Manure

Manure Gases• Symptoms of exposure

– Irritation of eyes and nose – Respiratory problems (ammonia causes long term damage)– Headaches– Drowsiness/dizziness– Decreased motor control – Death

Manure Gases• At high concentrations may not be able to smell

some gases

• Wind, humidity, and temperature

• Avoid areas that may collect manure gases

– Reception pits– Near buildings

Manure gases can be measured using a gas monitoring device

Approximately $550 for a four-gas monitor

Safety Around Storage

• Never enter pit or tank without monitoring or ventilation• Have at least one attendant• Have communication plan• Wear safety harness with appropriate retrieval line• Do not attempt rescue• Holding breath is not an option-SCBA• Methane is a flammable manure gas

Accident Prevention

Safety Tip:

Cartridge respirator is NOT adequate.Breathing apparatus must supply air as

well as seal out toxic gasses.

Public Relations

Public Image• Keep equipment as

clean as possible • Refer to manure as a

nutrient, not waste or other negative forms

• Keep roads clean – sweepers and scrapers

DON’T GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO COMPLAIN!!!

Agitation Practices Increase Odor

• The more agitation the greater the odor• Small droplets carry great distances

Application Practices• Incorporation or injection can reduce odor by 90%• Avoid surface application near houses & property lines• Remember holidays, special events, weekends and the

weather forecast

Stay alert and know your surroundings!

Transportation Safety

What turn is the safest?• Left-turn collision

– most common type of farm vehicle accident on public roads

Rear-end CollisionsOther traffic may only have a few seconds to

react or slow down

What can I do to help prevent accidents?

• Know traffic patterns before arriving• Avoid

– rush hour – night travel

• Use safety lighting and extremity marking

• Train employees on road hazards, routes and turn procedures

• Clean mirrors, windows, and flashers frequently

                                           

When traveling on the road, which type of turn is the most

dangerous?

Road Safety• Etiquette

– Avoid crossing the center line– Stay in lane for left hand turns – Do not wave motorists by you– Avoid throwing mud/manure on road

• Use mirrors/video camera• Know who to call• Know when to use the phone and radio – not on roads

Safety Tip:

Do not allow extra riders during transport and application

Road Safety

Use a tractor that is heavy enough to safely tow and control the loaded spreader.

Ratio = total weight of towed load total weight of tractor

OK Without brakes: ratio less than 1.5 with brakes: ratio less than 4.5

Example – 5000 g tanker can carry 40,000 lbs of manure plus the weight of the tractor. Do you have enough braking power?

How long is application equipment?

Application

In The Field---Environmental Impact

• Be aware of danger points ---– in your field and the neighboring field

• Should be on nutrient management plan– Streams, lakes, rivers, standing water– Tile inlets– Wells, sink holes– Ravines, low areas (areas spills collect)– Neighboring homes & wells (maintain buffer zone)

• Know equipment calibration– Load capacity– Spread pattern

(overlap required)• Foaming reduces

capacity

In The Field

Manure Patterns

Source: Livestock & Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum

• Avoid excessive application = run-off• Create resistance with a headland tillage pass• Avoid hauling when wet

– Wait– Go to high ground– Reduced rates

In The FieldIn The Field

If the road is narrow, where should two passing tanks be?

Transfer in the field or on the road?

Watch the road condition while on the job

Spill Response

What is a Spill?• Any application or release of manure that

has the potential to threaten groundwater or surface water resources.– 3000 gallons in a roadside ditch is different

than 3000 gallons on an acre of corn ground.

How to avoid a spill

• Prevention should be a #1 priority– Inspect equipment– Travel hose lines– Couplings away from water & ditches– Telephone numbers

• Supervisor• Farmer/Client

• List of emergency contacts– Front end loader, skid steer– Vacuum Tank– Special equipment– Wisconsin DNR Spill

Response Hotline 1-800-943-0003

Spills can occur at any time Be prepared!!

Spill Response

• Prevention --- #1– Inspect equipment– Travel hose lines– Couplings away from water & ditches– Telephone numbers

• Supervisor• Farmer/Client

Situation: Your Business has a manure spill.

• 6000 gallon tank• Shoulder on a corner of a ditch gives way• Tank over turns full• You are two miles from the farm

What steps do you take?

Spill Response

Spills can occur at any time – Be prepared• List of emergency contacts

– Front end loader, skid steer– Vacuum Tank– Special equipment– DNR 1-800-943-0003

Spill Response Steps

Step #1 Control• Stop Application and

turn off the pumps

Step #2 Contain• Determine best way to stop spill

& take action– Clamp hose or park tractor on the

hose– Turn off valves– Work up ground ahead of the flow– Create a set of earthen dams

Spill Response Steps

Step #3• Begin the cleanup

– Pump out the manure and remove solids– Land apply all spilled manure– Pressure wash the surface well– Remove soil that is soaked

with manure and land apply

Spill Response Steps

Step #4 **Step 3 & 4 may switch

• Call the DNR or appropriate agency– Spill reporting is mandatory by state law– DNR Spill Response Hotline

• 1-800-943-0003

– Others:• County DNR warden• DNR Animal Waste Specialist• County Sheriff’s office (911)

Spill Response Steps

Depending upon the severity of the spill, CONTACT may need to come before, or during, CLEANUP

Spill Response Steps

Remember – Wisconsin Spill Response Hotline 1-800-943-0003

Step #5• Fill out documentation and paperwork

– Protect yourself– It should contain:

• What you did• When you did it• Who you called & when• Etc.

– Take pictures

Spill Response Steps

Questions?