By Diane DeWitte, UMN Extension swine educatorOriginally printed in The LAND - as September 13, 2024, Swine & U column
My Extension Livestock team colleagues and I have spent the past two years creating, implementing and programming towards farm safety in its many forms. Our Extension livestock webpages have a robust collection of materials and videos focused on farm safety, personal team member safety, biosecurity and safety when handling specific livestock species. This general link to the site provides a terrific variety of safety information: https://extension.umn.edu/safety/farm-safety.
One element of fall work on the swine farm that always concerns me is manure hauling. Chryseis Modderman, UMN Extension crops educator focused on nutrient management provides these points: As we begin to think about fall manure applications, it is important to keep safety in mind. Working with manure presents special safety challenges beyond the basic farm dangers of working with large machinery, stress, and fatigue. One of those challenges is harmful manure gases.
Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas created during anaerobic (low/no oxygen) decomposition of manure which is most commonly found in liquid storage pits. It accumulates in the manure and is then released during agitation and pumping. Though it can smell like rotten eggs, you can’t solely trust your nose since your sense of smell becomes dulled to persistent odors. Levels as low as 0.1 ppm can cause eye irritation, and death can occur at just 200 ppm if there is extended exposure. Hydrogen sulfide is also dangerous because it can cause unconsciousness that can lead to drowning if near the pit, fall injury, and prolonged exposure that can cause lung damage and even death. Keep in mind that high levels of this gas don’t just occur in deep pits or in confinement; open pits can also accumulate high hydrogen sulfide levels since it tends to hang near the ground.
Methane is also a colorless gas that is heavier than air and is created by manure decomposition. While the gas itself is not typically toxic, it can cause asphyxiation as it displaces oxygen and breathable air. The other concern with methane is that it’s highly flammable. When levels reach 5 to 15% by volume, fires and explosions become a hazard. It is also quite mobile and can accumulate in unexpected areas, so ignition points far across the barn from the agitated manure can still pose a threat.
Agitation and pumping:
As we approach the serious part of harvest—the long days, the worry about weather and storage and markets—remember to focus on safety, and “Don’t Learn Safety by Accident”.
Diane DeWitte is a University of Minnesota Extension Educator based in Mankato who focuses on swine. She can be reached at stouf002@umn.edu.
I’ve recently spent time traveling across ag country including the Midwestern and Northeastern US and agricultural areas in Canada. It’s always interesting to see crop progress in far-flung areas, and to get excited as equipment begins to roll in spots where early planting occurred.
With the movement of today’s large imposing farm machinery, the importance of ag safety rises to the top of mind. Each September the Iowa-based National Education Center of Agricultural Safety (NECAS) recognizes a safety week. In 2024 the National Farm Safety & Health Week is September 16 - 20, with the theme “Don’t Learn Safety by Accident”
Each day the week of September 16 - 20 focuses on a specific element of farm safety and health. These webinars can be accessed at https://www.agrisafe.org/nfshw/. On this page you can select any or all of the presentations you would like to view, register free of charge, and have access to the material afterwards if you happen to miss the actual showing.
With the movement of today’s large imposing farm machinery, the importance of ag safety rises to the top of mind. Each September the Iowa-based National Education Center of Agricultural Safety (NECAS) recognizes a safety week. In 2024 the National Farm Safety & Health Week is September 16 - 20, with the theme “Don’t Learn Safety by Accident”
HISTORY
The National Farm Safety & Health Week website provides this background about the safety week and current data related to ag health incidents. The 2022 data for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the agricultural sector is still the most dangerous in America with 417 fatalities. Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture industry. For this reason, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week. This annual promotion initiated by the National Safety Council has been proclaimed as such by each sitting U.S. President since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. National Farm Safety and Health Week is led by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), the agricultural partner of the National Safety Council.Each day the week of September 16 - 20 focuses on a specific element of farm safety and health. These webinars can be accessed at https://www.agrisafe.org/nfshw/. On this page you can select any or all of the presentations you would like to view, register free of charge, and have access to the material afterwards if you happen to miss the actual showing.
Monday, September 16, 2024 - Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety
- Skid Loader Safety
- Sharing the Road: Agricultural Equipment and the Driving Public
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - Health and Wellness
- Noise: Bad for My Ears and Heart, too?
- Conversations on Access to Lethal Means
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - Generations of Farming
- Three Step Process to Farm Succession Planning
- Training Future Generations of Farmers through Registered Apprenticeship
- Train the Trainer – No Safe Way to Vape
Thursday, September 19, 2024 - Confined Spaces
- Causes of Oxygen Deficiency, Confined Space, and Toxic Fumes
- Grain Related Entrapment: Are We Focusing on the Right Problem?
Friday, September 20, 2024 - Reporting Ag Injuries
- It Pays to Talk Safety in Ag
- Using a Novel App Prototype to Assess Heat Stress Risk Among Outdoor Workers
My Extension Livestock team colleagues and I have spent the past two years creating, implementing and programming towards farm safety in its many forms. Our Extension livestock webpages have a robust collection of materials and videos focused on farm safety, personal team member safety, biosecurity and safety when handling specific livestock species. This general link to the site provides a terrific variety of safety information: https://extension.umn.edu/safety/farm-safety.
One element of fall work on the swine farm that always concerns me is manure hauling. Chryseis Modderman, UMN Extension crops educator focused on nutrient management provides these points: As we begin to think about fall manure applications, it is important to keep safety in mind. Working with manure presents special safety challenges beyond the basic farm dangers of working with large machinery, stress, and fatigue. One of those challenges is harmful manure gases.
Manure gas safety risks
The first step to manure gas safety is to understand the risks. In most operations, hydrogen sulfide and methane are of the biggest concern. Other gases such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide can also cause health concerns but can be more easily managed through ventilation and equipment upkeep.Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas created during anaerobic (low/no oxygen) decomposition of manure which is most commonly found in liquid storage pits. It accumulates in the manure and is then released during agitation and pumping. Though it can smell like rotten eggs, you can’t solely trust your nose since your sense of smell becomes dulled to persistent odors. Levels as low as 0.1 ppm can cause eye irritation, and death can occur at just 200 ppm if there is extended exposure. Hydrogen sulfide is also dangerous because it can cause unconsciousness that can lead to drowning if near the pit, fall injury, and prolonged exposure that can cause lung damage and even death. Keep in mind that high levels of this gas don’t just occur in deep pits or in confinement; open pits can also accumulate high hydrogen sulfide levels since it tends to hang near the ground.
Methane is also a colorless gas that is heavier than air and is created by manure decomposition. While the gas itself is not typically toxic, it can cause asphyxiation as it displaces oxygen and breathable air. The other concern with methane is that it’s highly flammable. When levels reach 5 to 15% by volume, fires and explosions become a hazard. It is also quite mobile and can accumulate in unexpected areas, so ignition points far across the barn from the agitated manure can still pose a threat.
Safety tips
To avoid the above risks, develop safety protocols for your farm or operation when it comes to handling manure, especially activities like agitation and pumping. When working with manure, ask yourself the following questions:Agitation and pumping:
- Are livestock and personnel removed from the manure basin area where they might inhale dangerous gases?
- Is the pit or basin well-ventilated?
- Have you disconnected any electrical equipment that may cause a spark?
- Do you have the proper personal protective equipment (self-contained breathing apparatus and harness with lifeline) on hand in case you need to enter the pit or basin?
- Do you have personal gas monitors?
- Do you have an Emergency Response Plan with updated phone numbers and contacts?
- Do you have signage or other communication measures in place to inform others that agitation and pumping are occurring?
- Have all employees and personnel been trained to follow your safety protocols and plans?
As we approach the serious part of harvest—the long days, the worry about weather and storage and markets—remember to focus on safety, and “Don’t Learn Safety by Accident”.
Diane DeWitte is a University of Minnesota Extension Educator based in Mankato who focuses on swine. She can be reached at stouf002@umn.edu.
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