Dairy H2S Exposure - AgSafe · 2018. 7. 31. · Hydrogen Sulphide (H 2 S) gas whenever liquid...
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Dairy farmers throughout BC are potenally exposed to toxic Hydrogen Sulphide (H 2 S) gas whenever liquid manure is agitated or pumped within manure storage systems. Farmers need to be aware of H 2 S gas exposure that can cause breathing difficules, loss of consciousness and ulmately death. H 2 S Warning Signs Eye irritaon soreness, light sensivity and seeing “rainbows” around bright lights Breathing irritaon sore nasal passages, sore throat and burning feeling in chest Other symptoms headache, confusion, nausea and disorientaon Health Hazards • Hydrogen Sulphide is a very toxic gas • It has no colour and smells like roen eggs • In larger amounts H 2 S, quickly blocks the sense of smell - that is why odour should never be used to rate H 2 S levels • Over exposure to H 2 S can cause you to stop breathing • When disturbed, H 2 S gas is released, it can render a person unconscious Tips to Lower H 2 S Gas Exposure Wear H 2 S gas detector to alert you of exposure to H 2 S gas Do not stand near the agitator or enter enclosed area while agitaon occurs Perform agitaon on a windy day and stand upwind or cross wind of agitaon area Venlate the area to ensure that fresh air enters the work area (e.g.; open windows and doors) Allow at least 15 minutes of venlaon before entering the area following agitaon Exposure Limits The occupaonal exposure limit is a ceiling (a value not to be exceeded) of 10 ppm. The immediately dangerous to life and health limit is 100 ppm. H 2 S levels up to 300 ppm have been reported at the start of agitaon and reach as high as 1000 ppm during vigorous agitaon*. Most people will smell the typical “roen egg” odour at a concentraon as low as 1 ppm. *American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers Confined / Enclosed Spaces If your liquid manure work pracces involve the requirement to enter a confined or enclosed space, AgSafe strongly recommends farmers receive assistance from a qualified professional. A list of cerfied industrial hygienists can be found under Confined Space Resources on our website. Michael McCarthy helped his father ‘knock off’ a hard crust that had formed on the slurry with a four-foot pike. He was overcome by fumes and fell into the slurry. The tragic death of Michael urges farmers to implement vigilant safety pracces. [RTE News, 2015] Windsock Gas Monitor Respirator
Transcript of Dairy H2S Exposure - AgSafe · 2018. 7. 31. · Hydrogen Sulphide (H 2 S) gas whenever liquid...
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Dairy farmers throughout BC are potentially exposed to toxic Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) gas whenever liquid manure is agitated or pumped within manure storage systems. Farmers need to be aware of H2S gas exposure that can cause breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness and ultimately death.
H2S Warning Signs Eye irritationsoreness, light sensitivity and seeing “rainbows” around bright lights
Breathing irritationsore nasal passages, sore throat and burning feeling in chest
Other symptomsheadache, confusion, nausea and disorientation
Health Hazards• Hydrogen Sulphide is a very toxic gas
• It has no colour and smells like rotten eggs
• In larger amounts H2S, quickly blocks the sense of smell - that is why odour should never be used to rate H2S levels
• Over exposure to H2S can cause you to stop breathing
• When disturbed, H2S gas is released, it can render a person unconscious
Tips to Lower H2S Gas Exposure Wear H2S gas detector to alert you of exposure to H2S gas
Do not stand near the agitator or enter enclosed area while agitation occurs
Perform agitation on a windy day and stand upwind or cross wind of agitation area
Ventilate the area to ensure that fresh air enters the work area (e.g.; open windows and doors)
Allow at least 15 minutes of ventilation before entering the area following agitation
Exposure LimitsThe occupational exposure limit is a ceiling (a value not to be exceeded) of 10 ppm. The immediately dangerous to life and health limit is 100 ppm.
H2S levels up to 300 ppm have been reported at the start of agitation and reach as high as 1000 ppm during vigorous agitation*.
Most people will smell the typical “rotten egg” odour at a concentration as low as 1 ppm.
*American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers
Con�ned / Enclosed SpacesIf your liquid manure work practices involve the requirement to enter a confined or enclosed space, AgSafe strongly recommends farmers receive assistance from a qualified professional.
A list of certified industrial hygienists can be found under Confined Space Resources on our website.
Michael McCarthy helped his father ‘knock off’ a hard crust that had formed on the slurry with a four-foot pike. He was overcome by fumes and fell into the slurry.
The tragic death of Michael urges farmers to implement vigilant safety practices.
[RTE News, 2015]
Windsock
Gas Monitor
Respirator
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AgSafeAgSafe
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To arrange training, contact the Safety Consultant for your area by calling: Phone: 1.604.881.6078
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Farm And Ranch Safety and Health Association
Hydrogen Sulphide GasExposure on BC Dairy Farms
Since 1993 we have supported BC’s Agricultural Industry through health and safety training and education
Useful Tools to Prevent Exposure to H2SVisit our website www.agsafebc.ca for further information.
A sample H2S exposure control plan is available under the dairy farm resources section on our website.
Awareness TrainingToxic gases and a lack of oxygen are not visible to the naked eye and often cannot be detected by smell. The levels of oxygen and toxic gas can change very quickly.
Awareness training should include:
The health hazards of released toxic gas
The important use of multi-gas detectors and monitors
Safe agricultural practices (e.g.; manure management and ventilation etc)
