Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- July 17, 2007

Manure-storage fatalities are avoidable (:51)

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Suggested Intro:

THE TRAGIC DEATH OF FIVE PEOPLE IN A MANURE PIT ON A VIRGINIA FARM RECENTLY IS A GRIM REMINDER OF THE NEED FOR CAUTION AROUND MANURE-STORAGE FACILITIES. THAT WORD FROM A FARM-SAFETY SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. CHUCK GILL REPORTS:

Story:

(:12) MANURE PRODUCED ON LIVESTOCK FARMS OFTEN IS STORED UNTIL CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT FOR SPREADING IT ON CROP FIELDS AS FERTILIZER. BUT DECOMPOSING MANURE ALSO CAN PRODUCE DEADLY GASES THAT CAN OVERCOME A PERSON WITHIN SECONDS.

(:08) PENN STATE FARM-SAFETY SPECIALIST DENNIS MURPHY SAYS, TRAGICALLY, INCIDENTS INVOLVING MANURE STORAGE OFTEN INVOLVE MULTIPLE FATALITIES :

Murphy Actuality:
(:18) "YOU SEE SOMEONE GO IN AND THEY DON'T COME BACK UP, AND SO IMMEDIATELY YOU GO DOWN TO INVESTIGATE. AND THAT PERSON MAY FALL OVER, AND BY THEN, IF SOMEONE ELSE STARTS TO SEE THERE'S A COUPLE PEOPLE DOWN, THEY JUST GET INTO A REALLY PANICKED STAGE AND REALLY DON'T THINK CLEARLY. WE WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT IT'S VERY TOXIC DOWN THERE, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE SUICIDE FOR ANYONE ELSE TO GO IN."

(:13) MURPHY SAYS MANURE STORAGE AREAS SHOULD BE WELL VENTILATED, ESPECIALLY DURING AGITATION AND PUMPING. AND HE SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER ENTER A MANURE PIT WITHOUT A SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS AND LIFELINE. FROM PENN STATE, I'M CHUCK GILL.

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Learn more:

MANURE STORAGE HAZARDS CAN BE DEADLY FOR FARMERS, RESCUERS (news from the College of Agricultural Sciences)

Manure Storage Hazards (College of Agricultural Sciences publication in PDF format -- Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

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