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Safe Operation of Swine

Waste Management Systems

Todd See

North Carolina State University

Overview

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States, and leads all other industries in work-related fatalities.

A majority of all agricultural accidents involve some type of machinery or equipment.

A majority of accidents on hog farms occur during animal/human interaction.

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Summary of Documented Fatalities in

Livestock Manure and Storage Facilities

1975-2004

Source: Beaver and Field, 2007; J. of Agromedicine

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Source: Beaver and Field, 2007; J. of Agromedicine

Summary of Documented Fatalities in

Livestock Manure and Storage Facilities

1975-2004

Accidents Cost Time, Money, and

other Losses

• You’ll lose time and money while recovering.

• You might not be able to function as you did before the accident.

• Accident costs reduce the profit margin of your operation.

• Accidents cost people their lives.

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The Objectives of a Safety Program

• Provide an environment that encourages safety

awareness and compliance.

• To minimize accidents by taking a proactive

approach to safety.

• To provide a uniform policy of safety

management consistent with the requirements of

OSHA and insurance carriers.

Safety is Everyone’s

Responsibility

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Work Together

• Make safety everyone’s concern

• Always be aware of your actions and your

surroundings.

• Ask for help if a task is more than you can handle

alone.

• Take short rest breaks – and be sure to drink water

• Eat a well-balanced diet and get plenty of sleep.

• Wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE)

Stay Healthy

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Machinery & Equipment

Take Precautions When Working with

Power Equipment

• Stay away from equipment if you are angry.

• Do not operate equipment unless you’ve been trained to operate it.

• Read the operator’s manuals for all equipment.

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Guards and ShieldsKeep all guards and safety

shields in place on equipment:

Pumps

Manure Spreaders

Power units

Irrigation equipment

GuardsBasic area which should be

guarded include:

The actual point of operation

Power transmission components

such as belts, gears, drivelines,

etc…

Other moving parts

Machinery designed for fixed

operation should be securely

anchored.

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PTO Shields

Properly Shielded

No Connecter, Master of Shaft Shields

Around the Power Take OFF

(PTO)

• Wear close fitting clothes

• Start and stop only from the tractor seat

• Walk around –never step over a rotating PTO

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Mowing Safety

Tractors

• Just because you know how to drive a car doesn't mean you know how to safely operate a tractor.

• Reduce speed on slopes

• ROPS and seat belts are 99% effective

• Mow up and down steep slopes

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Lagoons

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FACE ID:00IA02901

Date 7/8/00

02136149109

Occupation hog confinement maintenance

• Summary Case Report: 52 year old maintenance man for a hog confinement operation was mowing grass around a manure lagoon using a tractor equipped with a belly mower. He ran over a garden hose which was attached to a sump pump in a fenced off area used for fuel storage. The hose wound up in the mower, pulling the sump pump up and over a chain link fence, striking the man in the side of the head rendering his unconscious. The tractor then swerved downhill into the lagoon, threw off the operator, then overturned trapping the man underneath. The man drowned in the lagoon.

Lagoons are a potential

drowning hazard

• If possible lagoons should be fenced

• Install self-closing, self-latching gates

• Install a rescue pole with an empty plastic milk jug, a long pole, and emergency phone numbers

• Signs should be posted around the perimeter of the lagoon providing a clear warning

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Boat Safety on a Lagoon• Survey lagoons with three people: 2 on the boat and one on shore

• Vessel in top condition with no tripping hazards or sharp exposed edges

• Remember that semi-v hull and flat bottom jon boats are unstable and easily capsized

• Keep weight evenly distributed

• Standing raises the point of gravity and increases the risk of capsizing

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Staying Afloat

• Use flotation devices

• If capsized air in clothes can

provide flotation

• Bend at the knees

• Remain calm and do not thrash

• Paddle slowly to safety

•Remote methods

reduce risk

•Exercise caution

on lagoon banks

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Respiratory Health and Safety

Acute Hazard: Gases

There are five gases released during pork production:

• Methane (CH4)

• Ammonia (NH3)

• Carbon dioxide (CO2)

• Carbon monoxide(CO)

• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)

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Methane

Source of Hazard:

Released during decomposition and agitation of manure. Methane is a colorless, odorless, usually nontoxic gas.

Effect of Overexposure

• Dangerous if it gathers in amounts large enough to cause oxygen levels to decrease.

• The risk of explosion is a greater concern.

Ammonia

Source of Hazard:

Released during decomposition and agitation of manure. Ammonia is a pungent, colorless, noxious gas, easily detected even in small concentrations, which can cause respiratory irritation.

Effect of Overexposure:

• In humans, low levels irritate eyes, throat, and lungs.

• Concentrations as low as 0.5 percent may cause suffocation.

• For hogs, at non-lethal levels, symptoms include sneezing, increased salivation and loss of appetite.

• Chronic exposure could result in increased susceptibility to respiratory diseases.

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Carbon Dioxide

Source of Hazard:

Released during respiration process of animals. Carbon dioxide is a heavy, colorless gas, which can cause respiration rate increase (panting) at high concentrations.

Effects of Overexposure:

Humans have no reaction to low levels, but a 10 percent concentration will cause panting and dizziness. Animal response to a four percent concentration would be a notable increase in respiration rate and death.

Carbon Monoxide

Source of Hazard:

Released from un-vented heaters and gas powered power washers. Carbon monoxide is a

colorless, odorless, very toxic gas,

Effects of Overexposure:

• Death may occur if exposed to high concentrations.

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Hydrogen Sulfide

Source of Hazard:

Released during decomposition and agitation of manure. Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, poisonous gas that has an odor of rotten eggs.

Effects of Overexposure:

• Small amounts quickly and severely irritate eyes, throat, and lungs, in humans.

• Concentrations as low as 0.1 percent will cause immediate loss of consciousness and death.

• Constant exposure at low levels could induce a fear of light, nervousness and loss of appetite in animals. As concentration increases, animals will vomit and will suffer from diarrhea, and eventually die.

Controlling or Reducing Hazardous

Concentrations of Toxic Gas

• Dilute toxic gases by maintaining proper ventilation and bringing fresh air into the contaminated area.

• Bring fresh air from the outside into the contaminated area by using fans and opening curtains, doors, and windows.

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Taking Actions to Prevent Injury

• DO NOT ENTER AN AREA IN WHICH HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF A TOXIC GAS ARE SUSPECTED!

• If any people are “down,” DO NOT ENTER THE AREA

• If animals only are affected, DO NOT ENTER THE AREA

Taking Actions to Prevent Injury

• If it is necessary to enter an area in which hazardous levels of a toxic gas are suspected, protect yourself with a supplied-air respirator.

• Supplied-air respirators include: Air line respirators and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus or (SCBA)

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• Respirators and dust masks help block the entry of harmful gases and dust into the lungs.

• Wear a respirator or dust mask while performing work anywhere you may be exposed to harmful dusts, gases or sprays.

• Wear a SCBA or other supplied air respirator if you are authorized to enter a confined space such as a manure pit.

• Maintenance work should be performed by qualified service personnel.

Personal Protective Equipment for

Respiratory Health and Safety

Hearing Health and Safety

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Identifying Hazard Zones

• An auditory hazard zones exists where noise levels are at or above 85 decibels.

• Decibels are the units used to measure the loudness of sound.

• Prolonged exposure to noise levels at or above 85 decibels can result in hearing loss.

Total Exposure Sound Level• Use hearing protection when noise levels and/or durations

of exposure exceed the following limits:

Hours per Day Decibels (dBA)

8 85

6 92

4 95

3 97

2 100

1.5 102

1 105

.5 110

.25 or less 115

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Average Noise Levels

• Irrigation pumps 100 dBA

• Tractors w/ cabs 76 dBA

• Tractors w/ cabs 10+ years 81 dBA

• Tractors w/o cabs 92 dBA

• Average increase with radio on 5 dBA

• If you must raise your voice to be heard by someone three feet away, the noise level around you is likely at or above 85 decibels.

Protection Against Hearing Loss

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Protection Against Hearing Loss

• Remove yourself from the hazard zone whenever possible.

• Reduce the noise at the source.

• Move non-noisy tasks outside or otherwise away from noisy equipment.

• When possible, space out the noisy tasks you do.

Using Hearing Protection

• Wear hearing protection

whenever you are around

loud noise.

• It’s important that the

hearing protection you use

is comfortable and fits

properly.

• Keep the hearing protection

nearby.

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The three main types of hearing protection are:

• Protective Earmuffs

• Earplugs

• Canal Caps

Using Hearing Protection

Confined Space Program

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There are 2 types of confined spaces; non-permit required and permit required. Each confined space must be evaluated for the following hazards and then classified.

Oxygen deficient atmosphere

Flammable atmosphere

Toxic atmosphere

Mechanical or physical hazards

Types of confined spaces

A “Confined Space” can be defined as a space large enough for one body to enter in order to perform a task, has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, is not designed for continuous occupancy.

Examples of confined spaces, that typically don’t require a permit, include:

Attics

Crawl spaces

Walk-in refrigerators

Confined Space

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A “Permit-Required Confined Space”:

• Is large enough for one body to enter in order to perform a task, has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, is not designed for continuous occupancy,

and,

• Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere and/or mechanical or physical hazards.

• Example: manure pit

Permit – Required Confined Space

Safety Procedures for Confined

Spaces

Do not enter a confined space unless:

• You have notified your supervisor.

• You have been properly trained.

• You are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

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• Utilize lockout/tagout.

Safety Procedures for Confined

Spaces

Atmospheric monitoring should be done to check for potentially hazardous conditions. Test should be conducted, in this order, for:

Oxygen content

Flammability

Toxicity

Ventilation to replace contaminated air with fresh air is one of the most effective means of controlling hazardous atmospheres.

Monitoring and Ventilation

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Manure pits deserve special consideration when talking about confined spaces.

NEVER enter a pit without:A harness

SCBA

Outside attendant/observer

NEVER go into a pit to attempt a rescue on your own. Call for help and wait for help to arrive.

Manure Pits

Summary

• Safety is an important concern in

every facet of pork production

• Use personal protection equipment

• More information and a complete

training package is available from

the National Pork Board