Unfortunately, farming is not the healthy, relaxed occupation many people think it is. Farming activities of some sort must go on 365 days a year, as much as 14 to 16 hours per day or more during rush seasons, regardless of weather. Large animals and powerful, aggressive equipment must be managed properly. There are toxic gases, hazardous chemicals, electricity and other health hazards present as well. Farm workers inadvertently, through careless or thoughtless acts, are pulled into or entrapped by farm machinery, are exposed to toxic chemicals, submerged in flowing grain or suffer other injuries. When accidents do occur, they may be in remote or difficult to reach locations and may go unnoticed for several hours. Agriculture has the highest death rate of any industry in the United States. Approximately 1,600 deaths and 1,600,000 disabling injuries occur each year due to farm work accidents.
This bulletin is designed to familiarize emergency medical personnel with some of the characteristics and dangers of farm equipment and structures. The purpose is to provide basic information that will help in identifying the potential hazards at the scene and possible procedures that can be used to rescue a farm accident victim. It would be impossible to identify every type of machine found on the farm and procedures to be followed. Only a few of the major machines and unique structures are discussed, but many other machines employ similar mechanisms.
A final reminder: There are no absolute experts in
extrication of victims from farm machinery. Each
situation, each victim and each piece of equipment
will present a unique set of circumstances. Do not
expect miracles from yourself, rescue equipment,
machinery dealers or others. Do not blame the farm
machinery or structures since the human element is
usually the underlying cause of the accident. Simply
do the best possible job of rescuing the victim while
making every effort to prevent further injury to the
victim or rescuers.
Farm machinery is involved in most of the farm work-related fatalities in Georgia. Many of the non-fatal farm accidents will also involve farm machinery of some type. Because farm machinery is very powerful and incorporates aggressive crop gathering and processing mechanisms to function efficiently, those accidents where people are entangled will be very serious.
Most farm machinery is quite safe when new. However, many times the guards and shields are removed for service or maintenance procedures and never reinstalled. Sometimes the shields may become ineffective due to improper maintenance or physical damage. When the safety features have become ineffective or have been removed or bypassed, a person who ventures too close to the moving parts is placed at great risk.
Agricultural machinery is basically industrial equipment. Some farm equipment is stationary, while other machines are mobile. Many farm machines must gather standing crop materials and process them at high rates of speed. The mechanisms involved are very aggressive due to the nature of the processes involved. While the machines are typically well guarded, there are many areas which cannot be guarded sufficiently to prevent human injury. If sufficient guarding were installed to prevent human contact, the machines would not be able to perform their jobs.
One of the problems many EMS personnel encounter with farm equipment accidents is the heavy construction of the equipment. While the "Jaws of Life" rescue equipment is sufficient for most automobile accident extrications, it is often useless against the sturdy framework of machinery such as forage harvesters. Alternate equipment and techniques may be necessary in many cases. Disassembly of the equipment using hand tools is often the best option.
Typical hazards that may be encountered in a farm equipment accident include:
When responding to a farm machinery accident it is important to know the type equipment involved. The dispatcher should obtain as much information as possible about the type of accident and the conditions around the scene. Additional assistance can be called to the scene before rescuers even arrive if sufficient information is obtained from the caller.
The primary goal of rescuers is life safety - for the accident victim and for the rescuers. The main considerations are identification and treatment of injuries, prevention of further injuries and rescue. Salvaging the piece of equipment is not a primary concern, but use of proper techniques may minimize further damage to equipment and structures.
Things to consider when you reach an accident scene include:
Gasoline Powered Equipment - Gasoline powered equipment can be shut off quite easily by one of the following methods:
Always disconnect the battery after shutting down the equipment to prevent an accidental restart and to reduce potential sources of igniting a fire.
Diesel Powered Equipment - Diesel powered equipment may be difficult to shut down if you are unfamiliar with farm equipment, especially if you cannot access the controls.
Normal shutdown methods: There are at least four distinct normal methods of shutting down diesel powered tractors and equipment. Some are shut down by turning off the switch, but the most common shutdown procedure is pulling a knob. Figure 1 shows three shutdown control patterns.
Alternate shutdown methods: If you cannot access the controls to shut down the engine using the normal procedure, there are five alternate methods you can employ for stopping a diesel engine. Since a diesel engine requires only fuel and air to operate, eliminating either of these will stop the engine. However, it is desirable to shut off the fuel supply. Why? Because shutting off the fuel supply will eliminate the possibility of accidentally restarting the engine. An accidental restart could occur if the tractor rolls or if a person accidentally energizes the starter. Remember, there is no separate ignition system on a diesel engine.
The five alternate methods for diesel powered shutdown are:
In addition to the equipment or structure involved, there is often a significant danger in the surrounding areas. Vehicles which are driven through tall grass or crops may collect these materials on or around the exhaust system. Also, parking vehicles in tall grass or crops, especially when conditions are dry, could ignite the materials. Remember, the exhaust system is very hot, especially the catalytic converter. Always park vehicles in a safe location and/or have a charged hose ready to immediately attack any fires which might break out.
Check the scene for spilled fuels or lubricants and take appropriate steps to reduce the danger. Also, have fire extinguishers and/or charged hoses close at hand for immediate response.
Pesticides - The presence of pesticide containers in the vicinity or the presence of additional tanks mounted on a tractor indicate the possibility of pesticides. Some of the agricultural chemicals used today have very low toxicity to humans, while others are extremely toxic. Methyl parathion, furadan and temik are so toxic that only a few drops or granules on the skin can cause serious illness or death. If pesticides or other hazardous materials are involved, obtain the product label and transport it with the patient. The pesticide label will identify the exact compound of active ingredients and will have a phone number to call for additional information.
Agricultural chemicals are applied in a dilution which may exceed 100 gallons of water to 1 gallon of concentrate. The toxicity of these diluted mixtures will be lower than for the concentrate, but the overall effect on a person may be just as serious since larger volumes of liquid may be spilled. For maximum safety, treat all agri-chemical accidents as a serious health threat.
Another consideration for stabilizing accidents involving agri-chemicals is the potential for environmental contamination. Spilled chemicals must not be flushed down storm sewers or allowed to enter sinkholes or waterways. Liquid spills should be controlled with dikes and absorbent material. Dry formulation spills should be contained by covering with a tarp or dampening with a light mist to keep it from blowing away. All spilled and contaminated materials should be collected and packaged for treatment or disposal as hazardous waste.
Toxic Gases/Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres - These are not as obvious as some other hazardous materials, but their danger is more immediate. Certain locations on the farm will have high levels of toxic gases at certain times of the year or during certain operations. Some of the gases encountered on the farm are heavier than air and may exclude oxygen. Areas where toxic gases and/or oxygen deficient conditions should be expected include:
Tow trucks, cranes and front-end loaders might be employed in some circumstances. However, these will require extreme caution and well trained operators. Additionally, be certain that the lifting equipment is capable of lifting the required load and that it can do so without losing its own stability. In general, lifting with jacks or air bags and then bracing or cribbing to provide solid support will provide better control and greater safety. If the victim is already dead, however, absolute control of the movement is not as critical and lifting with machines is more acceptable.
Be absolutely certain that you support the equipment by blocking, lifting or tying off to the frame! If you attempt to support equipment by cribbing to the sheet metal parts it will likely fail, causing the machine to shift suddenly.
AVOID lifting or supporting by the wheels! The wheels will most likely turn, resulting in loss of support and sudden shifting. If you absolutely must lift or support a machine by its wheels, you must take steps to ensure that the wheels cannot possibly turn. You cannot rely on the brakes or transmission park lock. The only way to ensure that wheels will not rotate is to physically block them to the machine frame, and this can be difficult to accomplish.
Watch for settling or shifting! Remember, you may be dealing with a very heavy machine, possibly in a place where the machine will settle or sink deeper into the ground during the rescue. Pay special attention to settling of supports and settling or sinking of the machine in other areas where not supported.
One of your best resources in the event of a farm equipment accident will be your nearest farm equipment dealer. Most dealers have the capability to respond to the scene of an accident to render assistance if requested. A good relationship should be established with the dealers as early as possible. Learn their capabilities and the types or brands of equipment they are qualified to assist with. Explain to their personnel what you might need or expect of them if they are called to a farm accident scene. It might be a good idea to involve some of their personnel in local EMS programs.
If the patient is seriously injured, consider calling a physician to the scene. It may be necessary to amputate an arm or leg in order to free the patient. If the accident scene is in a remote location or difficult to reach due to poor road or field conditions, it may be necessary to call a medical helicopter. In addition to transporting the patient, the helicopter can also transport rescuers, equipment and physicians to the scene if necessary.
General procedures for freeing farm accident patients are described in following sections. These are guidelines only, since every situation is unique. Remember, the goal is to free the patient without causing further injury and without endangering the rescuers.
After the patient has been freed and transported from the scene, gather and store the tools and then stabilize the scene to prevent further accidents. This might mean righting an overturned tractor and moving it to a safe location or some extra work, but it is better than making a return trip to rescue someone else.
Tractor overturns result in more farm work fatalities than any other farm accident. There is a federal labor standard which requires a roll-over protective structure (ROPS) on almost all agricultural tractors built since 1976 when operated by employees. However, many tractors built earlier are still in use and many purchased since that time did not have a ROPS or it has been removed. Using the safety belt on a ROPS-equipped tractor virtually eliminates tractor overturn fatalities. Older tractors, which account for most fatalities, are likely to be used by less experienced operators such as part-time farmers and young people.
A tractor features heavy construction, but there are some parts which have little structural strength, such as sheet metal parts. All supports and jacks should be positioned so that the tractor is supported by its frame, ROPS or engine Block. Avoid supporting or jacking by the wheels, since the differential will allow the wheel to turn.
Most tractor overturns occur to the side. Typical causes include hitting an obstacle, operating on steep slopes, using front-end loaders and operating at excessive speeds. In most cases there was an implement attached to the tractor or being towed. This attached equipment can increase the severity of the accident and complicate rescue operations.
Rear overturns are less frequent than sideways rollovers, but are more likely to be fatal. The operator has a greater opportunity to jump or be thrown clear in a sideways rollover. In a rear upset, however, the operator very rarely has sufficient reaction time to jump and nowhere to go if he or she does have time. The tractor usually crushes the victim against the seat and steering wheel. Typical causes of rear overturns are hitching to a point other than the drawbar, going up steep slopes and trying to free a stuck tractor.
Be aware that the rear tires are usually filled with a solution of calcium chloride and water for extra weight. The solution may contain as much as five pounds calcium chloride per gallon of water to increase the weight and to provide freeze protection. This makes the tires dangerously heavy and rear tractor tires should be handled with a forklift, loader or hoist to prevent injury. As an example, a 20.8 - 38 tractor tire will hold 140 gallons of water, an added weight of 1168 pounds. A solution of five pounds calcium chloride per gallon of water will require 114 gallons of water and 570 pounds calcium chloride. This solution will add 1521 pounds to the weight of each tire and remain slush-free to -53F.
Typically, the victim will experience crushing injuries such as broken bones, lacerations and contusions. Head, chest and pelvic injuries should be expected as well, with the possibility of internal injuries such as collapsed lungs. Examine the patient as in any traumatic accident situation. In all cases, move the patient as little as possible. Always suspect spinal cord injury and serious internal injuries.
Additional injuries or dangers may be present due to spilled fuel, battery acid, hot engine coolant and hydraulic fluid (which may be hot).
The power take-off (PTO) shaft is a drive shaft that delivers power from the tractor to another machine. The tractor's PTO output shaft is located at the rear of the tractor, just above the drawbar. Some tractors also have a front PTO located under the transmission of the tractor. Power is transferred to the implement through a telescoping shaft with universal joints at both ends. The end nearest the implement usually has a shear pin and/or slip clutch to prevent drive line damage from overload conditions.
A PTO shaft may operate at 540 or 1,000 rpm. Rotation will be clockwise when facing the tractor from the rear. The operating speed of the PTO can be identified by the number of splines on the output shaft or the coupler. Almost all modern tractors have what is called a 'live PTO' which operates even with the clutch depressed. Some PTOs are linked to the engine through a two-stage clutch, while some are hydraulically operated. These are important points to remember, because a rescuer who starts a tractor engine with the PTO in gear will start any PTO powered equipment hooked to the tractor. Any persons working on this equipment at that time could be seriously injured or killed.
All PTO shafts are equipped with guards at the factory. These guards may be the integral tubular shield fitted over the shaft itself or an enclosure which prevents contact with moving parts. The shields must be in place and properly maintained to offer the intended protection. Unfortunately, many shields become damaged during use or as a result of improper maintenance. Many others are removed when the machine is being serviced and are never replaced. Never trust a guard or shield they are for protection against accidental contact only.
PTO entanglements occur when a person gets too close to the rotating shaft and clothing, hair or something else wraps around the shaft. Safe operating practices dictate that no one should be in close proximity to the PTO shaft while it is in operation. There are some machines that do require the operator to be in the general vicinity of the PTO shaft, but none require the operator to be very close to the shaft.
Often, the victim of an entanglement made a judgmental error, such as stepping up on the tongue of a machine or attempting to mount the tractor from the rear. Sometimes a person attempts to step across a PTO shaft or leans over it to reach something. It only takes one loose thread to pull a person into the shaft. If the tractor is small and operating at near-idle, the engine may stall when a person becomes entangled in the PTO. With larger tractors and when operating at the rated speed, a person should consider himself fortunate if an arm or leg is pulled off rather than the entire body becoming entangled.
Injuries from a PTO entanglement are usually fatal or involve amputations, severe lacerations and/or multiple fractures. Neck and spine injuries are common in PTO entanglements. Occasionally, the victim may have a limb torn from the body by the shaft. The victim may actually become wrapped around the shaft. Another possibility might involve clothing being wrapped so tightly on the shaft that the victim may experience difficulty breathing or blood circulation may be restricted. There have been cases of persons being scalped when their hair became entangled in the PTO shaft.
In some cases the shaft can be manually reversed to remove the patient from the shaft. Some cases will involve such complex injuries that the best choice may be to transport the patient and the shaft together to the emergency room where awaiting physicians can separate the patient from the shaft.
Be aware that the drive line may be under load in some cases. For example, a post hole digger may stall the engine, leaving the shaft under a torque load. If the shaft is cut while under load, additional injury to the patient or to rescuers could result.
The auger is used to transport materials, primarily feed and grain. Most augers are enclosed in a tube, while some are non-enclosed. Farm augers may be powered by electric motors, gasoline engines or the tractor PTO. The augers used on farms may be eight inches or more in diameter and up to 60 feet in length. Portable augers are mounted on a frame with a means for raising the discharge end of the auger to the top of grain bins. A winch and cables usually raise the auger, but some have a hydraulic cylinder for this purpose. There should be a guard over the intake of the auger to prevent contact with the flighting by a hand or foot, but these are often missing.
Dangers associated with augers include entanglement with the drive lines that power the auger, entanglement with the auger flighting and electrocution caused by contact with overhead power lines.
Entanglement with the flighting may occur when the person reaches to grab something in the flowing grain or when the person attempts to clear a blockage at the intake with a hand or foot.
Injuries may range from minor cuts, to amputations and severe entanglements depending on the part of the auger and body involved. This bulletin will deal only with accidents involving the auger flighting.
It is possible to manually reverse the direction of the auger to back the trapped limb from the auger tube. In some cases, the hand or foot may be amputated by the shearing action of the flighting as it enters the tube. In these cases, recovery of the amputated part should be attempted, although it may be so badly damaged that reattachment is not possible.
There are several different machines that use a pickup attachment of some sort to lift crop materials from the ground and feed them into the machine. The pickup typically uses spring steel tines which rotate opposite the direction of travel. The tines, or teeth, extend between bars or slats until the crop has been lifted from the ground and directed rearward toward the processing portion of the machine. Some machines may also have a reel located above the pickup to assist in feeding the machine.
Occasionally, the crop materials may bunch up or clog the pickup. Safe operating practice is to disengage power, shut off the engine and then clear the blockage. Entanglement in the pickup mechanisms often are the result of a person attempting to clear a blockage or jam while the machine is still operating. The person may have a hand or foot caught and injured, or may have the entire body pulled into the machine.
The construction of the pickup will not be as heavy as some other crop gathering mechanisms. It should be possible to disassemble the pickup with hand tools to an extent that will make the rescue possible.
The machine will be raised and lowered hydraulically. It is important to support the machine with blocks or cribbing to prevent its gradual lowering, since many hydraulic systems will leak down.
Injuries may vary considerably, but expect a number of puncture wounds. Lacerations and tearing injuries should also be expected. If the person was pulled in far enough to reach other feed mechanisms and the processing portions of the machine, serious crushing injuries, amputations or others may occur.
Some disassembly of the machine may be necessary to gain access to the patient. Reversing the machine to free a patient with tines puncturing the chest or abdomen should not be attempted unless there is no alternative.
The corn header is a crop gathering attachment found on corn pickers and combines. It has aggressive rollers, called snapping rolls, that pull corn stalks downward at speeds of 10 to 15 feet per second to snap the ears of corn from the stalk. As the stalk passes between the closely-spaced snapping bars, the ears are snapped from the stalk and then transported by gathering chains to the combine for threshing or to the husking rolls and elevator on a corn picker.
Sometimes the stalks or other trash do not feed properly and will jam in the machine. Modern combines have a reversing feature which will clear most jams. Injuries occur when a person attempts to free a jam with the machine running. When the jam clears, a person holding onto a stalk cannot react fast enough to let go before his hand is caught in the machine. The victim may be pulled in by the rollers until the upper body prevents further involvement.
Corn headers feature heavy construction and will be quite heavy as well. The "Jaws of Life" tools will not be able to spread the frame of a corn header, so disassembly or another approach will be required. Cutting torches might be used to cut the machine apart, but cutting may be difficult because many parts are made of cast iron or hard surfaced steel. The header alone on a 4-row combine will weigh about 2,500 pounds, while an 8-row header will weigh about 5,500 pounds.
The round baler has replaced the conventional square baler on many farms since it reduces the labor requirements of producing, storing and feeding hay. These balers produce bales which range in size from 5' dia. x 4'long weighing about 900 pounds to 6' dia. x 5' long and weighing 2,000 pounds or more.
The pickup mechanism of the balers is essentially the same as on other balers, except that it is positioned somewhat underneath the front of the machine. There is a set of compression rollers to flatten the layer of hay between the pick-up and the baling chamber. A large round baler may feature one of three methods of forming the hay into a large roll - large flat belts, chains and bars or steel rollers. There may be several powerful springs which should be treated with caution because sudden release of the energy stored by these springs could cause serious injury or death.
Entanglement in the pick-up assembly or the belts and chains used to compress the crop account for most injuries with the large round baler. However, a person could be caught by the rear gate as it closes or be caught by other mechanisms.
Injuries to victims entangled in the pick-up assembly or the belts or chains may include lacerations, puncture wounds, fractures and abrasions. The victim may have been pulled in so tightly that it is difficult to breath. A person caught by the rear gate as it closes may suffer fractures and other crushing injuries. It is possible that a person could be trapped in the baling chamber itself.
The conventional baler is a more complex machine than the large round baler. The basic components include the pickup, cross auger or feeding fork, baling chamber and the knotter. Hay is lifted from the ground by the pickup and fed into the baling chamber by a cross auger or a fork. A reciprocating ram compresses the hay into a rectangular chamber. As the ram compresses the material, a knife on its side shears the hay at the opening of the baling chamber. When the bale reaches a set length, a knotter mechanism ties the twine.
Most of the injuries with the conventional baler are associated with the pickup and the knotter. However, a person could be pulled into the baler far enough to become entangled in the cross auger or fork and even the baling chamber.
The combine is a harvesting machine which separates grain from the rest of the plant. There are two basic types of combines. Pull-type combines are towed by the tractor and powered by the PTO. Self-propelled combines are large machines powered by a six or eight cylinder gasoline or diesel engine. A combine has numerous belts and pulleys to deliver power to the various components.
Crops are gathered by the header and fed into the throat of the combine by a cross auger. When the crop reaches the cylinder, it is processed by rotating bars that roll the material against the concave to separate the grain from the cob or seed head. Further separation is accomplished by shakers and fans. The grain is transported to a grain tank, which may hold up to 200 bushels or more, until it is unloaded by augers. The straw and chaff are discharged from the rear of the combine. Larger combines are often equipped with a straw chopper/spreader, which consists of three or four reinforced rubber strips rotating around a vertical shaft, to spread the straw more evenly on the ground.
Combines used in Georgia may have one of three types of headers. A grain platform is used to harvest most crops, and may range from 13 to 30 feet in width. It consists of a sickle bar cutter which cuts the plants, a reel which pushes the crop back over the cutter and a cross auger which brings the crop to the center of the header for feeding into the combine. A corn header is specifically designed for harvesting corn, and may handle from 4 to 12 rows. It uses snapping rolls to separate the ear from the stalk, minimizing the amount of material which must be fed through the machine. A row-crop header is used for crops such as soybeans, sorghum and sunflower. These headers appear similar to the corn header at first glance and handle from four to eight rows. Row-crop headers harvest only the plants which are in the row, minimizing the amount of weeds processed by the combine. The plants are gripped between rubber belts, pulled past a cutter and delivered to the cross auger.
The most likely accidents will involve a person caught in the header, pinned under the header or who has a foot caught in the auger at the bottom of the grain tank. Other injuries occur when a person is caught by a belt drive or struck by the straw chopper/spreader. Extra persons riding on the combine risk falling or being thrown from the machine and being run over. Overturns are not very common, but have occurred. If the combine is equipped with a ROPS cab, the operator who is wearing a safety belt should receive only minor injuries.
Fires are common with combines if the operator does not clean dust and chaff from the engine compartment daily. Overheated bearings, fuel leaks and electrical shorts can also cause fires on combines.
Injuries may include fractures, lacerations and amputations. Entanglements may involve only a hand or foot, or they may involve the entire body.
Today's farm machinery uses hydraulics for a number of purposes, employing single- and double- acting cylinders and hydraulic motors to raise and lower equipment and power rotating mechanisms. Some machines, such as self-propelled combines and sprayers, have hydraulic motors to power the wheels.
The hydraulic system is operated by an engine-driven pump, typically located in front of the engine, and valves controlled from the operator's station. Hydraulic pressure on modern equipment is typically 2,500 psi, and the equipment is capable of supporting very heavy loads or exerting tremendous force.
Hydraulic hoses are coupled to the tractor with quick-connect couplers equipped with ball-type check valves. These couplers are intended to prevent damage to the hoses and contain the hydraulic fluid in the event towed equipment is accidentally separated.
Do not depend on the hydraulic system as the means of lifting nor supporting equipment during a rescue. Hydraulic systems are notorious for leaking down with the tractor running and especially with the engine shut off. The fluid leaks may be external or internal resulting from wear or malfunctions. This means that the supported load will slowly be lowered. If a hose ruptures, the load will drop suddenly and without warning. A more immediate danger is that the valves may not provide the sensitive or precise control needed, especially if the load is near the capacity of the hydraulic system. Still another danger is that the controls may be reversed from what is expected or the hydraulic hoses may be connected wrong. In this case, the equipment may go down when it is expected to go up.
The most likely dangers involving hydraulic systems are being caught in or crushed by hydraulically-actuated equipment. Occasionally, a person will be crushed by a dump truck bed while working on the truck's hydraulic system.
Leaks in the hydraulic system can cause injuries to the skin and eyes. A small stream of fluid from a pin-hole leak in a hydraulic hose can penetrate the skin. Whenever hydraulic fluid is injected into the body, seek medical attention at once to reduce chances of a dangerous infection. Burns are also a danger because the hydraulic fluid will become quite hot after a tractor or other machine has been operated for some time. Leaking fluid can also make surfaces very slippery, causing difficulty in using tools and also increasing the possibility of slips and falls.
Fire is always a danger when there are hydraulic fluid leaks. Keep a fire extinguisher ready for immediate use.
Injuries may include hands or other body parts that have been crushed or sheared between equipment parts or pinned under equipment that fell.
Wastes from livestock grown in enclosed buildings or paved feed lots are normally collected and stored until they can be spread on the land to use the fertilizer content. The most common methods of storing animal wastes include flushing the wastes out to a lagoon, storing in pits beneath the animal pens or in underground tanks or pits or a covered pit called the dry stack.
There are several dangers associated with animal waste facilities. One is drowning in the lagoon, a pond built for storing animal wastes. The lagoon has steep sides and a person can easily slip and fall in. Occasionally, there will be a mat of grass and weeds growing on the surface of the lagoon which appears firm enough to walk on, but a person who dares to do so may fall through.
Fire and explosion are possible since methane and hydrogen sulfide are produced as the waste is broken down by bacteria. Methane is lighter than air and will dissipate unless trapped by an enclosure. Hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air, however, and cannot dissipate readily from low spots. Both gases are flammable and should always be suspected in livestock enclosure facilities. Do not allow any source of ignition in or near the entrance to manure pits or storage tanks.
A real and often overlooked danger is toxic gases. Hydrogen sulfide produced by the decomposition of manure is highly toxic and can kill a person with only a couple of breaths. Manure pits and tanks should be treated as immediately dangerous to life and health. Never enter an enclosed manure pit or tank without a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) unless testing has indicated the atmosphere is safe at the bottom. There have been several documented cases of multiple deaths in which one person after the other entered manure pits to attempt to rescue someone.
The levels of flammable and toxic gases will be highest during the process of agitating the wastes for pumping out. This frees the bubbles of gases trapped in the slurry.
Injuries, drowning and exposure to toxic gases.
The silo is a structure which holds crops that were harvested at moisture contents of 50 to 65 percent and fermented. The crops most commonly ensiled in Georgia are corn and hybrid grasses. The entire plant is chopped into segments about 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long and placed in the structure to ferment.
There are two basic categories of silos, trench and upright. Trench silos, also called bunker or pit silos, are oriented horizontally. Typically, they are dug into the side of a low hill, have a concrete floor and possibly concrete walls. The depth range from eight or ten feet and up. Silage is either dumped in from trucks or trailers or unloaded from forage boxes and then packed with a tractor or crawler for good fermentation and storage. The top is sealed by covering with plastic held in place by tires and sawdust. After removing covering, the silage is removed with a loader for feeding. Some farmers without suitable equipment may still load the silage onto trailers by hand for feeding. The main dangers with these silos are the danger of a vehicle falling in, overturning the tractor used to pack the silage and collapse of the face during feeding.
Upright, or tower, silos are cylindrical structures usually 20 to 30 feet in diameter and up to 80 feet tall. The most common type of upright silo used in Georgia is built of concrete, has doors along one side enclosed by a metal chute and is rather open around the roof. The forage is unloaded from the forage box to be blown up and into the silo by a large, PTO driven blower. Unloading is accomplished by a machine that removes the top layer of the silage and blows it out through the doors where it falls down the outside chute into a wagon or onto a conveyor for feeding. There are several dangers with upright silos, including falls, electrocution, highly toxic gases and entanglement in the unloading and feeding equipment.
Oxygen-limiting silos, sometimes called airtight or sealed silos, are of metal construction and are intended to provide an oxygen-free environment inside. The forage is placed in the silo by the blower, but the unloader is located beneath the silage. Silage sloughs off the bottom of the column of feed and is removed from the structure by a conveyor. There is usually little need to enter an oxygen-limiting silo, except to service the unloader. However, there is the danger of falls on the outside and entrapment while working on the unloader.
During the fermentation period, nitrogen dioxide is released along with several less dangerous gases. Nitrogen dioxide is a highly toxic gas which can kill a person with only one breath. It is heavier than air and may be present in dangerous levels in the silo, the chute and low areas near the base of the silo. The gas has an irritating, bleach-like odor and can be seen as a brownish colored gas in high concentration. Additional clues to the presence of NO2 include brownish stains on buildings and equipment and dead birds at the chute.
Injuries may include poisoning by NO2 and/or oxygen deficiency as well as lacerations and fractures from entanglement and falls.
For over-the-top rescues, securely lash a sturdy ladder to the fixed outside ladder or the bands which hold the silo together. Run the rope through a pulley or snatch block rigged to the top of the ladder. Drop one end of the rope to the rescuers inside and the other end to the ground.
Rig a second pulley or snatch block at the bottom of the silo directly under the ladder that is lashed to the top. Run the rope through this pulley and to members of the rescue team on the ground.
If the opening at the top is not large enough, enlarge it by cutting away the sheet metal or cut a new opening.
Pull the patient from the silo. The rescuer at the top can maneuver the backboard through the opening and can coordinate the rescue operation from that vantage point.
Tag lines attached to the backboard or litter can be used to keep the patient from swinging or being blown about during the descent.
Grain bins are used on many farms to store harvested crops until ready for use on the farm or until they are sold. The typical farm grain bin is about as wide as it is tall. Several dangers associated with grain bins deserve attention by rescue personnel.
One hazard is the danger of being submerged and suffocating in flowing grain. Grain bins are unloaded by an auger under the floor which empties the grain from the center of the bin. As the grain is being removed, the grain at the top of the bin flows toward the center and downward to the auger. A person inside the bin is easily trapped by the flowing grain. Once the person is caught knee-deep in the flowing grain, it is impossible to escape. This can happen in two or three seconds, and a person will be completely submerged in 10 to 15 seconds. A submerged person can survive for some time, although the pressure of the grain will make breathing difficult. However, a rescue is possible if done in a timely manner.
Sometimes the grain on top will mold and form a crust that looks firm enough to walk on. However, there may be voids under the crust and people have fallen through the crust to be submerged. Moldy grain will sometimes cake and form a vertical wall which must be removed after the rest of the grain has been emptied. This wall of grain may collapse and bury a person attempting to clean the bin.
Fumigants used to control weevils and other insect pests inside the grain bin also present a hazard. The chemical may be toxic if inhaled, and it may have displaced the oxygen from the bin. Always determine whether fumigation has taken place recently and test the atmosphere inside before entering. If not certain, wear an SCBA.
One last warning concerns airborne dusts and molds. Always wear at least a NIOSH approved toxic dust respirator. Breathing the dusts and molds may cause a reaction called farmer's lung or toxic organic dust syndrome (TODS).
Pesticides used in agricultural production control pests and diseases. These chemicals might be encountered at the barn or other storage facility, in vehicle accidents and spraying equipment accidents. The toxicity of pesticides varies from very low to very high. Only a few drops or granules of some pesticide concentrates can kill a person. Pesticides are diluted when mixed with water for application, so the relative toxicity is a great deal lower, but the large volume involved may result in a greater total dose.
Whenever approaching any accident involving tanks mounted on machinery or wagons, treat it as if it involves a hazardous material. Wear protective clothing and take measures to decontaminate the accident victim. Environmental protection measures (spill/runoff control) should also be implemented.
The pesticide product label will provide much useful information to rescuers. The exact chemical used as active ingredient will be identified. Also listed will be a phone number for obtaining emergency information not readily found on the label. An additional source of information for any chemical emergency is CHEMTREC (1-800-424-9300).
Determine whether there is a pesticide storage facility involved if a barn or other farm building is on fire. If pesticides are involved in the fire, it has been suggested that the best action is to evacuate the down-wind areas, protect nearby structures and let the fire burn. The rationale is that the burning will break down a large portion of the chemicals, resulting in less environmental harm than attempting to extinguish the fire with large volumes of water.
Anhydrous ammonia is transported from the supplier to the farm as a liquid under pressure. A series of valves, regulators and hoses are used to inject the ammonia into the soil behind a plow. Injuries occur when some of the ammonia escapes when coupling or uncoupling hoses. A catastrophic failure of a hose or line can release a large volume of ammonia and cause injuries covering a large portion of the body. Anhydrous ammonia is completely devoid of water, causing severe irritation and damage to body tissues by absorbing the water from those tissues. If liquid anhydrous ammonia contacts the body, it will also freeze the tissue.
First aid for exposure to anhydrous ammonia involves flushing the affected area for at least 15 minutes with water.
Silo and manure gases are so highly toxic in enclosed areas that a single breath may cause respiratory failure and death. These gases are discussed in the sections on silos and manure pits.
Injuries vary, depending on the chemicals involved.
Any chemical accident:
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