Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) Report: Hog Farm Co-Owner and Employee Die of Hydrogen Sulfide Poisoning in Manure Pit, Minnesota, August 8, 1992

摘要

An incident was described in which two workers at a hog farm died of hydrogen-sulfide (7783064) poisoning in a manure pit. A 27 year old male hog farm employee died as a result of hydrogen-sulfide poisoning when he entered a manure waste pit to extract a pump. The 46 year old coowner of the farm (the first victim's uncle) died when he entered the pit to rescue the first victim. The first victim and a coworker had attempted to pump the manure from the pit when they found that the pump intake was clogged. As the workers attempted to raise the pump from the pit, a wire broke. The following morning the victim entered the pit to attach a length of rope to the eye bolt on the pump. He was overcome with toxic fumes. His uncle later attempted to rescue him, despite warnings from the coworker on the scene, was overcome and fell on the first victim. In both cases the cause of death was hydrogen-sulfide poisoning. It was recommended that manure waste pits be identified as confined spaces and hazard warning signs be posted at all entrances, that farm employees never enter manure waste systems unless absolutely necessary and using complete safe entry procedures, that equipment be periodically inspected for physical damage, and that manure waste systems be equipped with some sort of powered ventilation system.