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Farmers in East Nissouri and in West Zorra can expect a visit this summer from Anne McNabb on behalf of the Oxford Farm Safety Association. Anne is one of four students in Oxford County who will be informing farmers and rural residents about the dangers of silo and manure pit gasses. The students, who are working under a Provincial Government grant supple- mented by donations from private industry, are well- informed and well-equipped for their mission. They have all been briefed at teach-in sessions super- vised by Darell Wells of the safety association and will concentrate on reminding farm operators of the dangers of two gasses in particular: nitrogen dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Climatic conditions such as drought followed by rain just before harvest,' and shorter growing seasons, can also increase the amount of nitrogen dioxide produced in silos. This is because the nitrogen in the plant doesn't have a chance to change into protein in corn cobs, for example. Both of -thesse gasses are potentially ltthal., _ . Nitrogen dioxide is com- monly formed as a by-pro- duct of fermentation which occurs in silos during the early stages of grain storage. A Hydrogen sulphide, known by its rotten egg odour, is produced in high concen- trations in liquid manure tanks. The farm safety booklet entitled Gas Poisoning On The Farm, which the students will be leaving with farmers, notes that the gas can form within a very short period of time after putting chopped material into a silo and may be present for up to two or three weeks. Nitrogen dioxide or silage gas has become more of a problem in recent years, says Miss McNabb, because of the increased use of fertilizer. 7 7 . It is recommended that any levelling off of grain be done as soon as it is put into the silo. "Even waiting a day to level off the silo is dangerous," says Miss Me. Nabb. "Sometimes because of rain a farmer may put off levelling until the next day. But the gas builds up". By Donal O'Connor Farm Safety Stressed By Anne Mchbb, Oxford ' (That was a clear case of the three men not being aware of the dangers of silage gas. Edward Connor T had gone into a silo during the critical period (after a day of rain delayed filling) . to level off the top. He was overcome by the gas. The others followed in an attempt to save him and met with the same fate.) If levelling must be done within the critical period the silo should first be venti- lated by removing the door closest to the level of the silage and by running the blower for about 30 minutes. And entry should always be made with a self-contained breathing apparatus - a particle respirator is not acceptable. -. Miss McNabb noted that the feed room at the base of the silo should also be ventilated. Because silo gas, being heavier than air, will flow down the Silo chute and can contaminate the feed room and barn area. Use of the buddy system - ensuring that another per- son is near by - when entering silos during the critical period is imperative, says the association booklet. Though nitrogen dioxide may have the odour of bleach or ammonia, it may often be undetected. She warns that even if a slight smell is detected the operator or farm hand should get out of the area immediately. "Sometimes you can't smell it because of the stronger smell of the silage", noted Miss Mc- Nabb. Miss McNabb made refer- ence to the tragic deaths of twp brothers and a farm helper on the Connor farm in Gananoque, Ont. in late 1977. _ Coughing, eye irritation, difficult breathing and tired- ness are symptoms of nitrogen dioxide poisoning. The other danger gas, hydrogen sulphide, may be equally hazardous - espec- ially to children and anim- als. Where there are slatted floors above liquid manure tanks, for example, it is necessary to ensure the liquid manure level is kept at a safe level. Like nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulphide is denser than air and will settle on the surface of the manure If the liquid in the holding tank is allowed to rise too high it will force the layer of gas above the slatted floor and poison livestock. St. Marys Journal-Argus, Wed., June 13, 1979 Agitation prior to pumping will cause gas to be released in higher concentrations so it is imperative that live- stock and people be evacu- Ated from the barn before agitation begins. _ An auxiliary ventilation system for keeping barn air circulating is recommended by the safety association. Illustrating the recom- mendation with an example, Miss McNabb said she had heard from farmers in the area that one farmer lost about 350 pigs on one occasion because of a hydro failure. Exposure to a high concentration of hydrogen sulphide causes paralysis of the nervous system and death. ANNE McNABB USES HAMMER AND nails to post a danger sign near silo on the West farm in Medina. Looking in is Victor West. Miss McNabb is one of four students currently dropping in On farmers in Oxford Symptoms of poisoning by this giis in lesser concent- rations include: mild de- pression, blurred vision and aching of eyes, dizziness and gastrieypet. A, fl -- - The Ghs? (for Gas Alert Safety Program) workers will be reminding farmers not to store herbicides and pesticides in feed rooms where they may be access- ible to livestock. A Miss McNabb will be noting too that mouth-to. mouth resuscitation should be avoided in attempting to revive anyone asphyxiated by poisonous gasses. Ins- tead, another method of artificial respiration should if The students hope to be able to demonstrate this as the prqgram p.rog.re.sses,. The four students involved in the program are available for speaking to groups and organizations about farm safety. Miss McNabb noted that though most farmers may be, aware of the precautions that should be taken concer- ning silo and manure management, new farmers and people who may be employed as farm helpers, may not be as well informed. _ The students hope to bring their farm safety message to 4-H groups and womens' grdups which may include farmers' wives and future farmer wives as well. County offering suggestions tor improving farm safety. Program is sponsored by Oxford County Safety Association. The students are focusing on silage and manure pit gases in their program. (Staff Photo)