Investigation of a Worker Death While Agitating Manure in a Non-Enclosed Storage

Details

• Personal Author:
  Binversie E ; Erb K ; Larson R ; Leonard, Stephanie ; Nelson J ; Rifleman S ; Schaefer D ; Shutske JM ; Skjolaas C
• Description:
  An in-depth investigation of an unusual, non-enclosed manure storage hydrogen sulfide-induced fatality on a Holstein beef production operation is presented. The case involved several factors that likely played a role in the young farmer's death. These included zero wind movement, a reported temperature inversion in the area, relatively cool late summer outdoor temperatures on the morning of the incident, higher outdoor temperatures the week prior, and a high by-product steer ration containing ingredients that contributed significant sulfur content to the stored manure. Recommendations are offered for future research to determine the combinations of conditions and inputs that have potential to increase human and animal risk around manure storage structures. Based on this case and others recently documented showing unsafe levels of hydrogen sulfide being released from similar outdoor storages, it is critical that agricultural industry experts and input suppliers continue to analyze risk and consequences associated with new management practices, processes, inputs (including feed ingredients and animal bedding), machines, and other technology developed to support animal agriculture. Production practice and educational guidance are also offered based on this case and published literature. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Education Farmers Hydrogen Sulfide Livestock Mortality Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Death Farm Workers Fatalities Fatality Hydrogen Sulfide Livestock Industry Manure Pits Manure Storage Occupational Hazard
• ISSN:
  1059-924X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 7 ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  10-19
• Volume:
  23
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051078
• Citation:
  J Agromedicine 2018 Jan; 23(1):10-19
• Contact Point Address:
  John M. Shutske, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
• Email:
  Shutske@wisc.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Hydrogen sulfide (CAS RN 7783-06-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Iowa, Iowa City
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Agromedicine
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4e4e5dd8ef36e75ca5e1b3c876f499c670e6bc4e5aad737d39fa4a36713eab973e08198ddddb91b310d7bb5cd13c802caf5c2ea134e07bc15465f87b8601444f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211204/cdc_211204_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.63 MB ]