BlB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 6,1982
COLLEGE PARK, Md. Fires
involving agricultural chemicals
are so potentially dangerous that
every farmer and homeowner
using chemicals and every mer
chant selling them needs a fire
control plan, according to Gary L.
Smith, a safety specialist with the
Maryland Cooperative Extension
Service.
Smith, an agricultural engineer
who specializes in farm safety
programs told a statewide
audience at the Maryland
Agricultural Pesticides Con
ference recently about the fire
Plan ahead for over-the-road farming safety
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, 111. -
Smaller profit margins during
recent years have prompted many
farmers to expand the size of their
operations by renting or pur
chasing fields that might be more
than just a few miles away. That
means road travel and con
siderations of both safety and time
efficiency.
Tom Leslie, product planning
manager for Massey-Ferguson,
contends that road travel with
farm equipment involves skill,
experience and common sense.
And it also demands advance
planning. Part of this planning
includes a close look at routes
available from the home farm to
the field. In fact, this should be a
consideration in acquiring the
extra land.
“Be sure to check for overhead
power lines and the width of the
road,” Leslie says. “If the road is
too narow, without wide shoulders,
it could be dangerous. Getting too
close to an edge that shears off can
Fulton Grange 66
Fulton Grange 66 met on
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The grange announced that
Clifford Holloway Jr. has been
appointed the local representative
for the credit union of the PA state
grange.
Holloway presented the
evening’s program which was a
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Ag
chemicals need fire control plan
dangers of fertilizers, herbicides
and insecticides.
“While some ag chemicals are
relatively harmless under normal
conditions, they may become
.explosive or toxic in a fire,” he
said. Smith cited sulfur, which will
smolder without burning if left
undisturbed, but may explode
when bit with a hard stream of
water.
He said, “If ammonia nitrate, a
common fertilizer used by both
fanners and home gardeners,
reaches a temperature of more
than 370 degrees fahrenheit, a heat
easily lead to overturned equip
ment."
Bridges are another important
consideration. Carefully examine
the bridge planks and check load
limits. If there is any doubt about
the safety of a bridge, call the
county supervisor or county
engineer to find out if the bridge
will be safe to cross with the type
and weight of equipment you own.
Once the route is planned, the
specialist recommends that
equipment be properly marked for
road travel. Lights and reflectors
are essential. Regulations for
these will vary from state to stale.
- However, most states require at
least reflectors and lights for night
travel. These typically mclude two
white lights, visible m front for S(H)
feet, and a red light in the rear on
the extreme left, visible for 500
feet. If a tool bar extends wider
than the tractor, be sure it is well
illuminated. And display a Slow
Moving Vehicle sign prominently
talk on fires, and smoke detectors.
He also spoke on the safe in
stallation of wood stoves.
Charles Browning and his wife
spoke on the trip he and his wife
took to Hawaii.
Charlotte Derr will show slides
and speak on Eagle'awareness at
the next meeting, February 8.
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C 122
producing reaction occurs and a
variety of explosive gases are
released.
The safety specialist, who also
conducts training programs for
firemen, told of an incident near
Damascus, Maryland, last year in
which 30 firemen were sent to
nearby hospitals for treatment of
exposure to toxic smoke.
Smith said, “Some chemicals
may remain harmless until water
used in fighting the fire vaporizes
into steam on contact and carries
toxicants into the air. As the steam
cools it releases the toxic
at the correct location on the back
of equipment.
Equipment manufacturers are
well aware of the need for safety
features.
“Most new tractors are equipped
with roll-over protective struc
tures, seat belts, flashing in
dicators, turn signals, parking
brakes and rearview mirrors,”
Leslie points out. “Safety features
such as these can save lives. Be
sure to take full advantage of
them.”
When hauling equipment, ad
ditional safety precautions are
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chemicals as ‘fall-out’. They may
be inhaled causing respiratory
damage or they may be absorbed
through the skin, causing equally
harmful results."
“The types of fire we are ex
periencing involves chemicals
ranging from those the average
homeowner might have stored in a
backyard shed, to chemicals on
farms in various kinds of storage
conditions. They might be well
marked in good pesticide storage
buildings or they may be setting
around the corner in the back of
the bam,” he said.
necessary. Leslie stresses that
equipment should be carefully
matched to the trailer being used
for transport. "Check the width of
the trailer and the equipment, the
load capacity of the trailer, and the
equipment weight,” he says. “Also
check the signals and the brakes.”
“If there are brakes on both the
truck and trailer, check both sets
and practice stopping belore going
out on the road,” Leslie says. “A
practice run with the trailer
, unloaded is a good way to become
'familiar with route stops at
minimum hazard.”
Smith offered advice to farmers,
homeowners, and merchants alike.
A fire control plan will cost little or
nothing, and it may prevent the
death or serious injury of family
members, neighbors, or firemen
trying to save a bam or business.
He also pointed out the cost
savings that can result from such a
plan.
“Clean-up costs following a
chemical fire can be expensive.
Run-off of water contaminated by
chemicals can contaminate
drinking water sources for humans
as well as farm animals. Nearby
crops may be damaged or soil
rendered unsuitable for planting.
These are just some of the
liabilities,” he said.
A plan should take into account
highway access, adjoining land
use, water sources, drainage,
equipment access, and any other
factor that may contribute to fast,
safe response by local fire fighting
companies.
Farmers who would like help in
developing an on-farm fire control
plan should contact the local
Extension office and local fire
department. Merchants selling or
storing agricultural chemicals
should check with their local fire
department for additional in
formation.