A slurry tank, also known as a farm slurry pit, slurry lagoon, or slurry store, is a hole, dam, or circular concrete structure where farmers collect all of their animal waste, as well as other unusable organic matter, such as hay and water run-off from washing down dairies, stables, and barns, in order to convert it over time into fertilizer that can be reused on their lands to fertilize crops. Because the decomposition of this waste material produces lethal gases, slurry pits are potentially lethal if precautions such as the use of a breathing apparatus with an air supply are not taken. Show
Farmers use it as a natural fertilizer for their crops because it is a mixture of manure and water. During the winter, when cattle are kept indoors, waste material from animals is collected beneath barns to be spread during the warmer months.It must first be broken up and mixed, usually in a tank, before it can be spread on the land. Why is it so dangerous?According to Northern Ireland's Health and Safety Executive, there is no such thing as a safe slurry tank. Bacterial decomposition of slurry produces gases that can kill people and animals almost instantly. The gas, which is heavier than air, settles in a cloud over the top of the slurry during mixing. Bending down into the gas cloud, even for a brief moment, can result in unconsciousness. It's actually a tank for storing all of the waste products produced by animals during the winter. It stays in these tanks for a few months, and a lethal mixture of gases, including methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and, worst of all, probably, hydrogen sulphide, builds up. Slurry tanks pose both drowning and suffocation hazards. Gases such as ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide are produced during decomposition. The latter two are heavier than air and will take longer to disperse from low-lying areas. Carbon dioxide has no odor, and hydrogen sulphide quickly becomes odorless by destroying victims' sense of smell. If inhaled, they can cause rapid unconsciousness due to poisoning or oxygen displacement, resulting in hypoxia. 1. Toxic gasesDuring the bacterial decomposition of slurry in tanks, toxic gases are released. These gases, which include hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide, can be fatal if inhaled. Some are flammable, such as methane. One, in particular, is poisonous: hydrogen sulphide. Because all of these gases are heavier than air, they dispense with oxygen. When a person enters a tank, this can result in suffocation. Hydrogen sulphide is extremely toxic to both humans and animals. It has an effect on the nervous system, and even low concentrations can be fatal. Because many gases are odorless, smell is not a reliable indicator of gas absence. Hydrogen sulphide has a rotten egg odor at low concentrations but cannot be detected at higher concentrations. When the slurry is agitated, high levels can be released. 2. DrowningDrowning is by far the most common cause of death in slurry accidents. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. PreventionOpen slurry tanks should be protected by a 1.8-metre-high unclimbable fence or wall with locked gates. Outdoor lagoon scrape holes should be adequately protected. Consider having an adequately constructed access platform with safety rails when the tank needs to be emptied. Covered or slatted tanks necessitate access manholes that children cannot easily open. Install a safety grid beneath the manhole to provide secondary protection. All slurry tank manhole openings should be covered. If you need to lift slats in the shed, be aware of the risk of back injury. Netsol Water is Greater Noida-based leading water & wastewater treatment plant manufacturer. We are industry's most demanding company based on client review and work quality. We are known as best commercial RO plant manufacturers, industrial RO plant manufacturer, sewage treatment plant manufacturer, Water Softener Plant Manufacturers and effluent treatment plant manufacturers. Apart from this 24x7 customer support is our USP. Call on +91-9650608473, or write us at for any support, inquiry or product-purchase related query.
A slurry pit, also known as a farm slurry pit, slurry tank, slurry lagoon or slurry store, is a hole, dam, or circular concrete structure where farmers gather all their animal waste together with other unusable organic matter, such as hay and water run off from washing down dairies, stables, and barns, in order to convert it over a lengthy period of time into fertilizer that can eventually be reused on their lands to fertilize crops.[1][2] The decomposition of this waste material produces deadly gases, making slurry pits potentially lethal without precautions such as the use of a breathing apparatus with air supply.[3] Agricultural slurry pits/tanks are common locations that require surveys for environmental and missing persons (accidental drowning, hidden victims of homicide) surveys: here conductivity is critical, as high freshwater and vegetation contents may allow radar wave propagation, while in manure and/or fertiliser-rich slurry, the conductivity is too high for WPR surveys. From: Journal of Hydrology, 2021 Published 8 June 2014 Share close Copy link About sharing
The death of an eight-year old boy who became overcome by slurry fumes at a County Antrim farm has once again highlighted how dangerous working on farms can be. Robert Christie had been helping his 52-year-old father, also called Robert, to mix slurry on a farm near Dunloy when they both fell sick. Mr Christie remains critically ill in hospital. What is slurry?A mixture of manure and water, it is used by farmers as a natural fertiliser for their crops. Waste material from animals is collected underneath barns during the winter when cattle are kept indoors, to be spread during the warmer months. First it has to be broken up and mixed, normally in a tank, so it can be spread on the land. It is at this mixing stage that the odourless and invisible gases are produced that can kill within seconds. Why is it so dangerous?Image caption, The accident happened at a farm near Dunloy on Saturday afternoon There is no such thing as a safe slurry tank, according to Northern Ireland's Health and Safety Executive. Gases are produced by bacteria during the decomposition of slurry, and these can kill people and animals almost instantly. Heavier than air, the gas settles in a cloud over the top of the slurry during mixing. Bending down into the gas cloud even briefly can cause unconsciousness. "It's really a tank for holding all the waste products from animals produced during the winter time," says Barclay Bell of the Ulster Farmers Union. "It stays in these tanks maybe for a number of months and a lethal combination of gases build up, including methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and worst of all, probably, hydrogen sulphide." Health and Safety Executive slurry advice Why is hydrogen sulphide the biggest risk factor?Hydrogen sulphide is the rotten egg stink-bomb smell. However, the warning signs are not immediately obvious as a high concentration knocks out your sense of smell. It causes breathing difficulties, then disorientation. After only a few breaths, it can displace air from the lungs and affect your nervous system. As soon as the slurry is mixed, the gas is released very quickly. Lethal risks of working with slurry What safety precautions can be taken?Wearing a facemask will not help, according to the Health and Safety Executive. Anyone entering a slurry tank must wear breathing apparatus with its own air supply, it says. If possible, slurry should be mixed on a windy day so that fumes can be more easily dispersed in the air. Doors and windows should be kept open and tank openings should be properly covered. The advice is that people should stay out of any building while slurry mixers are running for as long as possible. The use of meters to monitor gas levels are recommended only as an extra precaution, but the Health and Safety Executive says these are no substitute for proper safe working methods. Is this a long-standing problem in rural life?Image source, PAcemaker Image caption,Noel (L), Nevin (centre) and Graham Spence (R) were overcome by gas A common theme in the reaction by Northern Ireland politicians was how the fatal accident in Dunloy highlighted the continual dangers faced by farmers. Agriculture is an important part of the local economy, and it has brought a high cost as well in terms of human life. The incident on Saturday is the latest in a long line of fatal accidents involving slurry tanks on Northern Ireland's farms. The most high profile one happened in September 2012, when Ulster rugby player Nevin Spence, his father Noel and brother Graham died after they were overcome by fumes on their family farm. The inquest into their deaths was told it was the worst farming tragedy in Northern Ireland for 20 years. Coroner John Leckey said the case had raised awareness of the dangers of slurry, and asked the media to refer farmers to the HSENI website for slurry safety advice; in particular the 'safe system of work for mixing slurry' which has been distributed in Northern Ireland in 10,000 leaflets.
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