1. Professional Nutrient Applicators of Wisconsin Level 1 Certification 2012

2. Professional Application Practices

3. Primary Goal Safe Operation – Manure Gasses – Transport – Application Public Image Spill Response

4. Why is safety important? Protect Personnel Prevent Downtime Prevent Accidental Spills Maintain Customer Relations Maintain Public Relations Custom Applicators Are In The Public Eye

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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!

9. 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

10. 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

11. Manure Gases Symptoms of exposure – Irritation of eyes and nose – Respiratory problems (ammonia causes long term damage) – Headaches – Drowsiness/dizziness – Decreased motor control – Death

12. 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

13. Manure gases can be measured using a gas monitoring device Approximately $550 for a four-gas monitor

14. 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.

15. Public Relations

16. 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!!!

17. Agitation Practices Increase Odor The more agitation the greater the odor Small droplets carry great distances

18. 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

19. Stay alert and know your surroundings! Transportation Safety

20. What turn is the safest? Left-turn collision – most common type of farm vehicle accident on public roads

21. Rear-end Collisions Other traffic may only have a few seconds to react or slow down

22. 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

23. When traveling on the road, which type of turn is the most dangerous?

24. 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

25. 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?

26. How long is application equipment?

27. Application

28. 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)

29. Know equipment calibration – Load capacity – Spread pattern (overlap required) Foaming reduces capacity In The Field

31. Manure Patterns Source: Livestock & Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum

32. 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 Field

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

34. Transfer in the field or on the road?

35. Watch the road condition while on the job

36. Spill Response

37. 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.

38. 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

39. 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!!

40. Spill Response Prevention --- #1 – Inspect equipment – Travel hose lines – Couplings away from water & ditches – Telephone numbers Supervisor Farmer/Client

41. 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?

42. 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

43. Spill Response Steps Step #1 Control Stop Application and turn off the pumps

44. 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

46. 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

47. 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

48. 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

49. 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

50. Questions?