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Dominic Coppolo
New York
Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health
Silo
gases are a real threat to farmers' health and safety. In
particular, farmers should be wary of nitrogen dioxide, a
potentially lethal gas that can form within hours after filling
a silo and remain present for up to three weeks. Not only
should farmers stay out of their silos during this time period,
but they can follow these other recommended precautions to
avoid exposure to this deadly gas:
- Be
on the alert for bleach-like odors and/or yellowish brown
fumes at the base of the silo. Both are tell-tale signs
of nitrogen dioxide gas.
- Adequate
ventilation should be provided at the base of the silo,
especially if it opens into a feed room. Silo feed rooms
should be ventilated by the use of open windows and fans
during the 3 week closed-space danger period.
- Keep
the door between the silo and any attached structure, such
as a barn, tightly sealed to protect livestock and humans
from contamination of barn areas.
- Remember
to keep children and visitors away from the silo during
the danger period.
- Have
another person in the area when you are going to enter the
silo. Make sure people know where you are.
- Even
after the suggested three week period, measures should be
taken to adequately ventilate the silo before entering.
The forage blower should be run for 15-20 minutes. This
will allow the gases to escape.
- See
your doctor immediately if you suspect exposure to
silo gas.
Next
week we will continue to look at the dangers of silo gases
and how to avoid them.
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Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
Dominic Coppolo, Assistant Research Director, NYCAMH.
This
public service announcement was produced by the New York Center
for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH), One Atwell
Road, Cooperstown, New York 13326 - Ph# (607) 547-6023 or
(800) 343-7527 in the northeast. Publication date: 1994.
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