The following recommendations for safe and orderly handling apply to everybody who is handling nitrogenous mineral fertilizers.
- Avoid any contact of fertilizers with combustible substances, such as oil, lubricants, straw, saw-dust, cereals, sulphur etc. Do not smoke in spaces where nitrate containing fertilizers are stored.
- Avoid any contact of fertilizers with hot objects or surfaces. Beware of e.g. lamps, switches, (over) heated parts of transportation equipment.
- Always obey the rules as these are prescribed in your permits and the rules for nitrogen containing fertilizers, transport and storage, CPR1(Netherlands).
- Avoid any contact with acids, such as hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, and with alkaline substances, such as unslaked lime, cement etc.
- Indicate on the spot which product is stored there.
- Check the quality of the incoming product and again after a few hours.
- Have regular inspections. Contact your supplier if any quality deviations appear.
- Steep productwalls as a result of hardened product can lead to dangerous situations. Avoid undermining and take all possible measures to avoid collapsing while digging.
- Avoid distortion of piled up pallets.
- Extremely heated fertilizers, for instance in a fire, produce toxic gases; avoid inhalation. Warn the fire-fighters and extinguish with abundant water.
- Before maintenance, clean up the equipment, remove remnants and caked product. The combination of high temperatures (f.i. welding) and fertilizers can be dangerous.
