3 People killed in Slurry Tank accident

farmer_dave

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19614409

What an agonising story. Stirring the tanks has always been my least favourite task of the year.

Thoughts are with the family.

bbam

Oh my..
God bless them..

slippy wicket

Two brothers and their father, doesnt bear thinking about.

When you think of the close shaves you have with different things farming, it makes you shudder.

bob charles

doesnt bare thinking about for the family, hope medics can save person number 4. Everyday in farming there are so many near misses, I have had them myself unfortunately

tayto lover

A well known rugby player is one of them.

Prick!

Nevin Spence is one

wnolan1992

Ulster Star Nevin Spence Dies in Accident on Co. Down Farm


Truly tragic, horrific accident.

Kristopherus

RIP to all unfortunate victims.

Odelay

So sad. Thoughts to the mother. How on earth do you go on after something like this, two sons and your husband. Hope the sister pulls through.

Einhard

Would someone be able to explain what exactly happens with slurry tanks, and why they're so dangerous? What protection is rec'd when using them?

RIP to those who died, and condolences to the family.

johnmcdnl

Einhard wrote: »

Would someone be able to explain what exactly happens with slurry tanks, and why they're so dangerous? What protection is rec'd when using them?

RIP to those who died, and condolences to the family.

I'm taking you have no idea what a slurry tank here so...
Basically the slurry is all stored in a pit underneath a slated shed where the cattle are housed. Before spreading the slurry it has to be agitated - stirred up and mixed so its more runny so its actually able to be spread by a slurry tanker.
To do this there's generally a small manhole 3x3 foot give or take opened up in the floor of the shed to allow access for an agitating machine. This opening naturally dangerous enough on its own as if you fall into the pit your at risk of drowning in the slurry to begin with and secondly the gases are very poisonous which is something that can be overlooked if the shed isn't well ventilated. Generally the gases aren't released until aggiating begins so that's why its relatively safe to keep cattle in the shed through the winter. But once agitating begins the gases all start getting released hydrogen sulphide being the one that jump to my mind but there's probably others as well.

For safety you should keep all shed doors open and do it on a breezy day if possible for extra ventilation and try to make sure there's always an extra lad around if possible just in case something does happen. Children should never ever be let near a yard when the pit is open due to the risk of falling in and the gases. Then of course try to stay away from the opening unless its absolutely necessary to go over to it.

Tbh I'm usually in school or at college when the slurry is been done so I'm rarely about when we're spreading the slurry so don't have a whole lot of experience doing it myself so maybe someone else can give you more details but the danger of falling in when the manhole is open and poor ventilation causing poisoning are the main risks involved regarding the slurry tanks.



For 3 people to die like this is just terrible though and I really don't want to start speculating on what happened. Just my thoughts go out to the family and friends of the deceased and hopefully the woman can pull through.

Lads keep the heads up when working on the farm no matter what it is. It could just as easily be any of us tomorrow.

RIP

bbam

I think it may be too soon to start dissecting the mechanics of this incident.
I do think a health and safety sticky might be a good idea. Just not in this thread, not yet.

whelan1

my dad was telling me years ago when he had pigs, he emptied the slurry tank, not happy with the amount the tanker had sucked out he climbed into the tank and scraped the remainder with the hand scraper:eek::eek: he said its only now 30 years later that he realises he could have died... r.i.p to that family and may the survivors have the strenght to get over the next few days

whelan1

we where always told evacuate and ventilate when you agitate

Qualitymark

Why aren't these pits designed with the same kind of venting pipe used in toilets?

Truly tragic and hideous accident. God help all those who mourn these dead.

pakalasa

Hydrogen Sulphide is slightly heavier than Air, so even an empty tank could be full of the gas. RIP.

rancher

whelan1 wrote: »

we where always told evacuate and ventilate when you agitate

<snip>

[MOD]
This post COULD be interpreted as a direct criticism of the individuals involved in this particular tragedy.
I'm sure that wasn't the intention, so perhaps the poster might like to re-write it?
[/MOD]

farmer_dave

We should really open another thread to discuss the process and safety issues of slurry tanks. Although I'd just point out that there are still a number of tanks out there which do not have gang slats meaning that gap for the agitator is a lot bigger.

I've read on the Sun (not a great source, granted) that the tragedy was due to the attempted resuce of a pet dog, but we do not know the specifics of this tragic event and should wait for the HS&E.

crusher000

Thoughts are with the familly. Absolute horendous tradegy. The guts of nearly a full familly wiped out.

blue5000

My sympathy to the Spence family, I hope the daughter makes it. Really tragic if it was caused by a dog falling in.

Qualitymark

Should slurry collection be replaced by deep litter method as safer?

Richk2012

God be with the remaining family members .

grazeaway

Qualitymark wrote: »

Why aren't these pits designed with the same kind of venting pipe used in toilets?

Truly tragic and hideous accident. God help all those who mourn these dead.

A venting pipe wouldn't be much good. Agiating slurry in the summer is the most dangerous. The slurry forms a crust over time when it is not being topped up. This crust seals the slurry and keeps the gas inside. Once the crust breaks it allows the gas to escape. The gas is more concentrated by this time. As this gas does not have a colour so can't be seen. The gas is heavier then air so pushs the oxygen rich air away. As the tanks are usually full the gas escapes at the top and spreads into the space around it.

This is why all new buildings now have the agitation point outside the shed to low for the air to disperse the gas.

sea12

An Absolut tradegy. God help the remaining family members. .

Tipp Man

A terrible tragedy

god help the poor wife/mother. Hopefully the daughter will pull through

Dont be daft

Most of us have gone down there, be it to fish out a bullock or a pipe.

Just a terrible reminder of how simple it begins and how tragically it can end.

Sympathies and thoughts go to the family. Sends a shiver through me to imagine the pain they're in.

.james1984

Dont be daft wrote: »

Most of us have gone down there, be it to fish out a bullock or a pipe.

Just a terrible reminder of how simple it begins and how tragically it can end.

Sympathies and thoughts go to the family. Sends a shiver through me to imagine the pain they're in.

your spot on. had to fish out a pipe less than a week ago

fryup

don't know the in's and out's of farming, but if there's hazardous gas about surely it would be standard practice to wear protective clothing or would that make any difference?

49801

fryup wrote: »

don't know the in's and out's of farming, but if there's hazardous gas about surely it would be standard practice to wear protective clothing or would that make any difference?

It is widely known/understood in farming about the risk of slurry gasses and that you should never enter a tank. Particulary high risk during agitation when the crust is broken.

you would need a bottle of air to enter safely a tank that has has been recently agitated.

terrible accident.... condolances to to those who have lost loved ones.

pakalasa

.james1984 wrote: »

your spot on. had to fish out a pipe less than a week ago

Guys, you're mad going down into a tank like that. One breath of Hydrogen Sulphide is all it takes.

hoochis

pakalasa wrote: »

Guys, you're mad going down into a tank like that. One breath of Hydrogen Sulphide is all it takes.

My wife dropped her iphone through the slats and it landed face up on about a foot of slurry. Tried all sorts of contraptions to fish it out but no good. She suggested I go down the agitation point to recover it! Not a hope I said. Got her a new iphone the following day.

Dazzler88

My condolences to the Spence Family.I remember a few years ago,myself and Dad were shearing sheep in an old shed with wooden slats,the sheep were tightly packed around us,after about an hour,the slats gave way.We jumped onto the gate that was hung off the wall.I remember Dad trying to grab at some of the sheep that were drowning,scary stuff.About 10 ewes drowned,we were very lucky,could have been a lot worse.

bbam

I went in years ago to retreive a single slat that I let slip in...
The only consolation was to be tied off with a rope round my waist...

Probably the single most risky thing I've ever done..

RED PASSION

pakalasa wrote: »

Hydrogen Sulphide is slightly heavier than Air, so even an empty tank could be full of the gas. RIP.

how do you get rid of it

RED PASSION

hoochis wrote: »

My wife dropped her iphone through the slats and it landed face up on about a foot of slurry. Tried all sorts of contraptions to fish it out but no good. She suggested I go down the agitation point to recover it! Not a hope I said. Got her a new iphone the following day.

farmer tom, i also dropped my iphone down your slats

Qualitymark

Would it be possible to put a thick metal net into each pit that could be raised up in case of people or animals falling in? (I'm sure others have thought of such an idea before... just a thought.)

bbam

Has anyone tried the additives ??
Isnt there one that you add at the start of the year and it stops caking... Do they eliminate the need for agitating altogether..

Also when I worked for Alfa years ago they were bringing out an electrical system of some sorts that would either reduce the gasses or stop the binding process, I cant remember now.. No moving parts, a sort of electrolysis I suppose?

reilig

bbam wrote: »

Has anyone tried the additives ??
Isnt there one that you add at the start of the year and it stops caking... Do they eliminate the need for agitating altogether..

Also when I worked for Alfa years ago they were bringing out an electrical system of some sorts that would either reduce the gasses or stop the binding process, I cant remember now.. No moving parts, a sort of electrolysis I suppose?

We had a rep selling the additives a few weeks ago. He claimed that it would reduce agitating time by 75%. It supposedly bubbles all the time to reduce cakeing (He didn't say that it prevented it. You still have to agitate AFAIK.

The electrical system is an aeration system which continuously feeds air through the bottom of the tank using a range of nozzles. It is supposed to prevent aeration and you should never need to agitate.

I priced it for my 3 bay tank in 2008 when I was building it - €8000 installed. You also have the cost of running the compressor which is a large version of a septic tank compressor. Our septic tank compressor costs €30 every 2 months to run so I imagine that the cost for a tank this big would be multiples of that for the months of the year that the slurry is in the tank.

irishgeo

would gas masks help in this situation?

pakalasa

Most people try to agitate on a very windy day with all the doors wide open. The gases get blown away then. The most practical.

Another simple way is, after agitating keep the tip of the pipe just above the top of the slurry for a few minutes. Any settled gases on the slurry will get sucked up then. This more so when tanks are some bit empty.

bbam

irishgeo wrote: »

would gas masks help in this situation?

Only full SCBA (self contained breathing apperatus) gear would do. It's requires specialist training and maintenance, it's expensive to have. I've used it extensively in the past and a few hours working in it is like a weeks work. Not the answer.

reilig

On a practical side, do people believe that the department of ag designs for sheds were flawed? I certainly do. Their design which was used by many farmers in this area involved the building of a closed shed with little opportunity for gas to escape. These types of sheds have caused many deaths in the past with gas poisoning. Not only that, but these types of sheds have major complications for animal health with know increases of animal pnumonia for animals housed in these sheds due to a lack of air circulation.

I know someone with a shed like this and he has had to remove some side sheeting from the shed and leave both doors open all the time because when he would go into the shed, he could rub his hand on the animal's backs and they would be wet with sweat. His shed also has 2 agitating points inside it in the central passage.

I think at this stage people need to examine their facilities before they house animals and ensure that they don't pose a risk.
Losing an animal is a shame.
Losing a life is a tragedy!!

dharn

Qualitymark wrote: »

Why aren't these pits designed with the same kind of venting pipe used in toilets?

Truly tragic and hideous accident. God help all those who mourn these dead.

a crust forms over the slurry during the summer, when the sheds are not in use, then when silage is cut the slurry is agitated to spread it on the bare ground, when that crust is first broken all the built up gasses are released and this is the moment of greatest danger, the poisonous gas is odourless so it is extremely dangerous

grazeaway

Qualitymark wrote: »

Would it be possible to put a thick metal net into each pit that could be raised up in case of people or animals falling in? (I'm sure others have thought of such an idea before... just a thought.)

would be practically impossible to pull the net up through the slurry.

the best solution is to not expose your self to the danger. Many people think the problem is only there when the slurry is present so you'll hear about fellas going into the tank to check it after the slurry has been emptied. this is just as dangerous as the gas is heavier then air it'll settle on the bottom of the tank and cant get drawn out because of the tanks sides and slats on top. When the tanks are agitated when almost full the agitation pushes the slurry gases up and mixes it with the allowing the gas to dissipate.

Without wanting to paint the poor unfortunate Spence's in a bad light it seems they probably thought there was less danger as the tank was only half full and could wade in to save the dog. They probably thought only of the danger of drowning and reckoned that at 4 foot they would be ok. The problem with that is while your head might be 2 foot over the surface of the slurry and the air in that area probably had no oxygen.

Again a truly awful situation and my heart goes out the whole family. Hopefully other people will hear about the dangers and think twice about entering a slurry tank. The gas is an invisible killer so unlike say a bull, PTO shaft or tractor on a hill it cant be seen.

.james1984

well said grazeaway

Dont be daft

grazeaway wrote: »

Hopefully other people will hear about the dangers and think twice about entering a slurry tank.

Its certainly made me more aware of the danger.

I went into a tank to get a bullock out when I was young. To tell the truth I didnt give the gas a moments thought. Once I knew I was able to stand up in it, I went on with the task at hand. Suppose you just get tunnel vision of the problem in front of you.

dharn

i suppose if the bullock survived and he would have churned up the slurry then the chances are that the gas would be well gone by then, but it is still very risky i have gone down in to a tank also when there was about 6 inches left to inspect for cracks in the walls

hoochis

I vaguely recall reading on this forum before about how the county council wanted to send a farmer into the tanks to powerwash the walls so they could check for cracks. Or did I dream it? Must be a dream!

RED PASSION

dharn wrote: »

i suppose if the bullock survived and he would have churned up the slurry then the chances are that the gas would be well gone by then, but it is still very risky i have gone down in to a tank also when there was about 6 inches left to inspect for cracks in the walls

hahaha i read bullock as something else

redzerologhlen

hoochis wrote: »

I vaguely recall reading on this forum before about how the county council wanted to send a farmer into the tanks to powerwash the walls so they could check for cracks. Or did I dream it? Must be a dream!

No I think you are right.

bob charles

hoochis wrote: »

I vaguely recall reading on this forum before about how the county council wanted to send a farmer into the tanks to powerwash the walls so they could check for cracks. Or did I dream it? Must be a dream!

yes thats was I, that wrote that and our standoff on doing such is continuing, as I am refusing to enter the tanks to clean/wash them out. I had a bund test done by an engineer to say the tank is water tight but they are looking for an inspection test so im prepared to go to the law of the land to avoid having to do such an insane act. What happened during the weekend unfortunatly I will have to use to reinforce my point but I dont think anyone will condone me for doing so