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?
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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)
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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 1
Nationally, 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
Ammonia
Hydrogen sulfide
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
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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
Transportation Safety
Stay alert and know your surroundings!
What turn is the safest?
• Left-turn collision
– most common type of farm vehicle accident
on public roads
Rear-end Collisions
Other 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
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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.
Example – 5000 g tanker can carry 40,000 lbs of manure
plus the weight of the tractor. Do you have enough braking
power?
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
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)
In The Field
• Know equipment
calibration
– Load capacity
– Spread pattern
(overlap required)
• Foaming reduces
capacity
Manure Patterns
Source: Livestock & Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum
In The Field
• Avoid excessive application = run-off
• Create resistance with a headland tillage pass
• Avoid hauling when wet
– Wait
– Go to high ground
– Reduced rates
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
Spills can occur at any time
Be prepared!!
• List of emergency
contacts
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Front end loader, skid steer
Vacuum Tank
Special equipment
Wisconsin DNR Spill
Response Hotline
1-800-943-0003
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.
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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
Spill Response Steps
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
Remember – Wisconsin Spill Response Hotline
1-800-943-0003
Spill Response Steps
Step #5
• Fill out documentation and paperwork
– Protect yourself
– It should contain:
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What you did
When you did it
Who you called & when
Etc.
– Take pictures
Questions?