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Explosion risk in underground manure pits

The National Educational Center for Agricultural Safety says foam from underground manure pits can be explosive.

Director Dan Neenan tells Brownfield Midwest hog farms are the most at risk.

“As the foam starts coming through the slats, the farmer wants and needs to get it out of there and they agitate the pit.” He says, “When we brake the seal of that foam, methane comes up in a large area of gas and is looking for a spark.”

Neenan says there have been several catastrophic explosions in those situations.

He recommends farmers invest in gas detectors to know what the oxygen, explosive and hydrogen sulfide levels are around manure storage.  “It’s something you want to put on your person so where you’re standing at, if it’s getting to the point it’s harmful to you, it’s going to alarm, it’s going to vibrate and it’s going to tell you what’s going on.”

Neneen says manure gases are heavier than air so it’s best to stay up and away from pumps or agitators when hauling manure this fall.

AUDIO: Interview with Dan Neenan (7:09 mp3):