Extension Experts Release Guidelines to Increase Safety of Manure-storage

Farming is among the most dangerous work environments in the U.S., with higher fatality rates than emergency responders, according to the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. Among the factors that contribute to farming’s risk profile is the potential presence of toxic gases associated with manure storage facilities.

In 2012, two young boys were knocked unconscious near their family’s dairy manure storage, prompting Penn State Extension to take action. To prevent future incidents during manure agitation, Extension formed a partnership with two companies and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, seeking to identify the cause of the accident and implement measures to avoid similar incidents.

These efforts appear successful. As manure storage emptying season approaches, Penn State researchers seek to reinforce the message that increased awareness of manure gas dangers saves lives.

In the year prior to the incident with the two boys, fatalities on other dairy farms occurred during manure agitation, which surprised researchers at Penn State, including Eileen Fabian, professor of agricultural engineering and environmental biophysics in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The manure storages were open-air and uncovered, which would seem to limit the risk of manure gas exposure compared to closed, covered or confined manure storages.

“A possible clue was the use of gypsum bedding in the dairy cow barn,” Fabian explained. “Recycled gypsum has become a popular bedding material for the dairy industry due to its affordability, high moisture absorption, low bacteria growth and soil benefits. But if gypsum, which contains sulfate, ends up in low-oxygen manure-storage facilities as soiled bedding, it can turn into a dangerous gas during agitation.”

Demonstration trials at 10 dairy farms in 2014-15 showed that dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide gas during manure agitation likely contributed to farm incidents and fatalities. This project revealed limited awareness among dairy farmers about the increased release of dangerous manure gas during agitation, particularly high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas due to sulfur compounds in manure slurry from gypsum bedding, poor water quality or other sources.

The driving force behind much of this data collection was Michael Hile, who now directs the Penn State Odor Assessment Laboratory. His doctoral work in agricultural and biological engineering was instrumental in generating project results and informing extension efforts.

Hile and other experts in agricultural engineering, farm safety and air quality at Penn State collaborated to communicate the dangers of hydrogen sulfide gas released from liquid manure containing gypsum. Outreach products, for both local and national audiences, included field days, outreach to media, conference presentations, fact sheets and peer-reviewed journal articles.

Collaboration between academic, business and government entities was crucial to the success of the project, the researchers noted. Companies such as USA Gypsum and Industrial Scientific provided expertise and partial sponsorship, while the 10 dairy farms provided real-world insight. The involvement of these companies, along with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, allowed for wider dissemination of the project’s findings to the dairy industry.

Source: psu.edu