GUIDANCE FOR THE STORAGE, HANDLING AND TRANSPORTATION OF SOLID MINERAL FERTILIZERS
10.4.3 Good housekeeping is essential to avoid any possible hazard arising from contamination. In particular: i)
Clean the storage area before putting fertilizers into the store and when switching from one product to another.
ii) Keep equipment, walls and floors (including all passageways and open spaces) clean and free from contaminants at all times. iii) Take care of contaminated materials promptly and safely, as described in Chapter 12. iv) Clean up and dispose of rubbish promptly and safely. v)
Avoid contaminating pallets, ropes, covers and other equipment with fertilizers, particularly those containing nitrates.
vi) Where nitrate fertilizers are involved, do not use organic substances such as sawdust as an aid to cleaning floors but use inorganic absorbents. (e.g. limestone, sand, dolomite, lavastone, gypsum and ‘Sorboil’ – a proprietary product) 10.4.4 Where excessive levels of dust are present, reference should be made to the relevant SDS for guidance on protective measures.
10.5
STORAGE WITH OTHER PRODUCTS
10.5.1 Do not store flammable or readily combustible materials such as packaging materials, pallets, gasoline, oil, sulphur, hay, straw, organic substances, and reactive chemicals such as acids, or oxidizing agents where they can contaminate or affect the fertilizer in the event of a fire. In some cases a completely empty space may be adequate with the general principle that under fire conditions the products should not affect or contaminate each other. In normal storage conditions the products should be stored so as not to contaminate each other. Agricultural products whose reaction with fertilizers may be unknown, for example pesticides, disinfectants or weed-killers, should be treated in a similar manner. The advice of the local fire authorities should be sought and a reference should be made to any national standards or regulations. 10.5.2 Do not store fertilizers in the vicinity of explosives. Where explosives are stored at the same site they must be stored strictly in accordance with national explosives legislation. 10.5.3 Take precautions to avoid the inadvertent mixing of different fertilizer products even though they may be of the non-classified type. Such inadvertent mixing may generate non-conforming (including classified) materials with unpredictable properties. For example, mixing two non-classified AN-based NPKs may result in a classified NPK of the SSD type. For further information see EFMA guidance (Refs 2 & 3) and/or seek expert advice. 10.5.4 If urea is stored in the same building as AN-based fertilizers, arrange the storage so that they cannot contaminate or affect each other in the event of a fire.
10.6
EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES IN STORAGE BUILDINGS
10.6.1 Where conveyor belts are used, consideration should be given to the provision of overload trip controls. 10.6.2 Keep moving parts of conveying equipment (including mobile conveyors) clean and maintained in good condition to avoid potential heat sources. Attend promptly to oil leaks particularly where they could contaminate the fertilizer. 10.6.3 Avoid wherever possible, hollow shafts and sections on equipment used for these fertilizers. Where they are used wash them out regularly to prevent the build up of fertilizer. 10.6.4 Where plastic materials are used for pipes, ducts, silos etc. it should be recognized that static electricity can be generated and appropriate care should be taken for personal safety. 42