Ammonium Nitrate Transport: Accidents and Investigations

Keywords: Ammonium nitrate, fertiliser, fertiliser safety.

This paper reviews transport accidents involving loads of solid ammonium nitrate with focus on fire and explosion types. Their relevant particulars have been compiled and analysed with a view to identifying and understanding the likely causes of explosion. All three main modes of transport have been covered; but the focus has been on road transport. Accidents which happened since about 1920 have been considered. Changes, which have taken place over the decades in products and regulations, have been mentioned with their impact on the safety in transport. Various investigations that were carried out to understand the behaviour of ammonium nitrate in relation to explosion accidents have been briefly described and the relevant factors discussed. Consideration has been given to the risk of explosion in land transport in Europe.

Kish D Shah, Shah4SHE, Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees, TS15 9NU, UK.

Jan Chys, Yara S.A., Avenue Marcel Thiry 83, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.

28 pages, 2 tables, 15 references.