25 April 2018, 11:06
It's that time of year again – spring! To our friends up north, this season may be forgotten with the brutal winter you have had. Nevertheless, it is spray time as we prepare for warmer weather and the subsequent insects and fungi that come with it. Spray season is upon us, and there are a few safety measures to take into consideration before you start using your spray truck for tree care work.
Spill Prevention
When gathering water at a public source, such as a fire hydrant, it is important to ensure all safety measures are in place to avoid contamination. The back flow prevention system is designed to ensure chemicals are not siphoned from your truck to the water source. If the back flow prevention system includes an air gap, be sure to keep a proper gap between the fill tube and the tank; a distance of two times the diameter of the fill tube is a good rule of thumb.
Kyle Narveson, general foreman for plant health care at Rainbow Tree Care, says "At some point, something is going to spill." He advises companies always have five gallon sealable bags and a set of rubber gloves to create a sealable trash bag as needed.
To prevent overfilling the tank, ensure all of the sight gauges are in proper working order. As a safety feature, water is loaded from the top of the truck on Altec Spray Equipment as opposed to ground level. Should the tank overflow or the fertilizer spill, the overflow will gather on the truck deck instead of the ground.
Maintenance
Inspect the tank, hoses and fittings for any cracks or leaks, and check that the pumps are in good shape. Pay close attention to the design of your pumps, especially if they are not sealless.
Narveson says, “On our large capacity fertilization trucks we do everything we can prior to the season that mitigates breakdowns. This includes re-building the diaphragm pumps, checking the clamps, and replacing fittings so the truck is always in service.”
These maintenance checks are particularly important if the truck was not winterized before the cold season.
Operator Safety Measures
All operators should use gloves, eye protection and a hard hat when using spray equipment. Ensure the eye wash and hand wash stations are in proper working condition at all times.
City Regulations
Be aware of any regulations in the city that you are performing work. Some cities require meters to record any water that is filled into trucks. If you do not have a meter to record the water you take, you could be heavily fined. Other cities specify that the gap prevention system should be an air gap. Before you perform any work, be sure to check the city’s work requirements so that you are in compliance with its rules and regulations.
So to be ready for your first spray day, be sure to service your equipment, check the city’s regulations and consult with the company that built your truck regarding any design and safety features. Here’s hoping the weather warms up soon so that you can start spraying.
Source: Altec Inc.