Galway farmers’ lucky escape from slurry gas in shed

Date Published: 28-Mar-2012

TEAGASC and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have asked farmers to stick to a number of set procedures when agitating slurry, following a major incident in the North Galway area last week in which at least two men were lucky to escape with their lives.

The incident in the middle of last week claimed the lives of four top quality beef cows but it could have been much worse with one man having to be pulled to safety, while two others also suffered the effects of slurry gas poisoning.

The well ventilated shed was being agitated on Thursday, when a number of animals, that had been left inside, were noticed to be in a distressed condition – one of the men at the scene ran into the shed to try and ‘relieve’ the situation, but was overpowered by the hydrogen sulphide slurry gas.

A second man who entered the shed also suffered the effects of the gas but with the help of a third person at the scene, all three eventually made it to safety where they later received emergency medical attention.

Four top quality continental cows, estimated to be worth in the region of €1,500 to €2,000 each, died in the incident but over the weekend there was relief among the families concerned that all three people at the scene had escaped – all are understood to be making a good recovery.

This week, Anthony Morahan, an agricultural Inspector with the HSA told the Farming Tribune, that farmers needed to stick to a very straightforward code of procedures when slurry was being agitated for spreading.

“The risk is at its worst for the first 30 minutes after agitating but in a matter of 10 to 15 seconds, a person can become unconscious with the slurry gas. It really is highly toxic and gives little if any time for a person to get away,” said Mr. Morahan.

See full story in this week’s Farming Section of the Connacht Tribune.