NIOSH Education and Information Division
According
to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), farm workers are risking their lives every time they
enter a manure pit. The oxygen-deficient, toxic, and/or explosive
atmosphere which can develop in a manure pit has claimed many
lives. NIOSH believes that warning farmers of this hazard
will help end the continued devastation it is inflicting upon
the American farm family.
"It
is outrageous that we are losing virtually entire fatalities
in manure pit tragedies," said NIOSH Director, Dr. J. Donald
Millar. "While we know we cannot prevent a father from entering
a pit to save his son, we can and will continue to do everything
in our power to prevent farm workers from jeopardizing their
lives by entering manure pits in the first place," stressed
Millar.
It is
not uncommon for manure pit incidents to result in multiple
fatalities. As the following case demonstrates, persons attempting
to rescue others in these confined spaces frequently become
victims themselves. On a late summer afternoon, a farm worker
entered a 10-foot-deep manure pit on his family's farm to
make a repair. While attempting to climb out of the pit, he
was overcome and fell to the bottom. His 15-year-old nephew
then entered the pit to attempt a rescue. He too was overcome
and collapsed. The boy's father, his cousin, and his grandfather,
the farm owner, then entered the pit one by one, attempting
to rescue him and his uncle. Tragically all five family members
died.
Manure
pit systems, used primarily on livestock farms (especially
dairy and swine operations), allow for the easy cleaning of
animal confinement buildings and the efficient underground
storage of large amounts of raw manure. The hazards of manure
pits, as well as the proper prevention measures, have been
recognized by researchers for several years. However, many
farm workers remain unaware of the dangers associated with
manure pits. Because the dangerous manure pit gases may not
always be pr sent, farm workers may have successfully entered
these pits in the past. "It is hard to convince a worker who
has entered a manure pit on several occasions without complications,
that the potential for death exists," said Millar.
Although
the potential for death always exists, farm workers should
be particularly aware of the hazards of entering manure pits
during the summer months. Changing conditions, such as warmer
or more humid weather and increasing barometric pressure,
can accelerate the production and accumulation of hazardous
gases. Manure pits that had been entered without incident
in the past, can quickly become filled with lethal concentrations
of gases.
In order
to prevent future deaths, farm workers must be informed of
the dangers of manure pits. While NIOSH is currently working
to develop practical prevention measures, current engineering
controls are often expensive and impractical. Until more efficient
prevention measures are developed, NIOSH urges farmers not
to enter manure pits. If a pit must be serviced from the inside,
farmers should consult the contacts listed on the following
page for safe entry procedures. NIOSH urgently requests your
assistance in disseminating the recommendations in this Update.
Because manure pit fatalities increase in the summer months,
we must act now to ensure the safety of our farm workers and
their families.
- On
August 8, 1992, a 27-year-old employee of a hog farm and
his 46-year-old uncle, who co-owned the farm, died after
entering an outdoor manure pit. The employee entered the
pit to repair a pump when he was overcome and fell off the
ladder into the pit. When the man's uncle descended the
ladder in an attempt to rescue his nephew, he was also overcome
and fell into the manure pit. Both men were removed from
the pit by rescue personnel equipped with appropriate respiratory
protection. They were pronounced dead on arrival at the
hospital of hydrogen sulfide poisoning.
- On
August 11, 1992, a 43-year-old dairy farm owner and his
23-year-old son died from asphyxiation after entering a
manure pit. The father descended a ladder into the pit to
attempt to clear a tunnel obstruction. His son was found
lying on top of him, apparently overcome during a rescue
attempt. The men were removed from the manure pit by rescue
personnel equipped with appropriate respiratory protection.
Both men were pronounced dead at the scene from asphyxiation
due to lack of oxygen.
There
are several hazards associated with manure pits. Dangerous
concentrations of gases such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia,
carbon dioxide, and methane can be produced when waste products
break down. Since manure pits are confined spaces that are
usually poorly ventilated, concentrations of these gases
can quickly rise to levels that are immediately dangerous
to life and health. These gases may also displace the oxygen
in the pit, which may cause workers in the pit to suffocate
due to a lack of oxygen.
STEPS FOR PREVENTION To protect workers, the following
precautions should be taken if a manure pit is in use
on your farm:
- NEVER
ENTER A MANURE PIT! If emergency entry into a pit
is necessary for rescue, call your local fire department
or 911. If it is absolutely necessary to enter a pit
for maintenance or repair, contact your local extension
agent or NIOSH for the recommendations necessary for
safe entry. To contact NIOSH, call 1-800-35-NIOSH.
- Post
hazard signs on all manure pits. The signs should
be understandable to workers who cannot speak English
or read. They should convey the messages DO NOT ENTER
and DEADLY GASES POSSIBLE.
- Provide
access to all serviceable parts from outside the manure
pit. This should eliminate the need for entry into
the pit.
- Fit
all openings to manure pits with substantial metal grill
covers. These grills provide natural ventilation
and prevent accidental falls or entries into the pits.
Your
state agriculture safety specialists, county extension office,
and your local fire department can also provide valuable
information.
For more information about this or other occupational
safety and health concerns, call toll-free: 1-800-35 NIOSH
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
This
document is NIOSH Publication,
93-114
.
Publication date: July, 1993.
National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of
Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC, 20201. Phone: (800) 356-467
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