Propane safety tips on the farm

WASHINGTON — Free propane safety guidelines are now available through the Propane Education and Research Council.

Each guide provides important information about code and training requirements, specific hazards and special safety considerations.

“Propane-powered equipment offers farmers many unique advantages over other energy sources or equipment,” said Michael Newland, director of agriculture business development at PERC.

“It’s imperative that propane users are properly educated on safe usage and practices to power their farms safely and efficiently. We’ve created these one-page guides to make this important safety education as simple and accessible as possible.”

Safety Considerations

1. Propane liquid when released into the atmosphere will immediately become very cold. Contact with your skin may result in frostbite burns. Operators handling liquid propane should utilize appropriate personal protective equipment to protect themselves from injury.

2. In any propane operation, identification and control of sources of ignition are of critical importance.

3. National Fire Protection Association codes require that propane containers, piping and equipment must be protected from corrosion. Corrosion control can be as simple as painting or from an external source such as sacrificial anodes for underground piping.

4. In any propane system, weather preparation is critical depending on the location. An examination of the entire system should be made to determine how the system can be protected from the effects of weather.

5. One very important item to consider is the use of anhydrous ammonia in agriculture. An anhydrous ammonia container and a propane container look similar and to the naked eye may look like they are the same. Cross contamination of these products in these systems has occurred and can have serious implications.

6. Avoid letting your propane system run out of gas — if this happens on the farm, the result could come in many different forms. Plan ahead. Ensure that checking your tank gauge is a part of your routine. Contact your propane provider about setting up automatic deliveries and to find out if a tank monitor is right for you.

7. Propane is a flammable product that has a distinct odor so you can identify if there is a leak. The odor is added to propane as a safety measure, but keep in mind that propane’s odor can be masked by livestock and other odors. Ask your supplier to help you get a whiff of propane so you know what it smells like.

Download safety guides for free at www.propane.com.