Swine Barn Workers Making Better Use of H2S Monitoring Equipment
CANADA - A Prince Albert based hydrogen sulfide awareness instructor reports swine barn workers are becoming increasing aware of the dangers of H2S gas and are using the equipment designed to protect them from those dangers, writes Bruce Cochrane.
3 January 2007
3 minute read
Since 2000 the Prairie Swine Centre has offered a hydrogen sulfide awareness workshop designed primarily for workers in the swine, dairy and liquid manure transportation industries.
Program instructor Shannon LaRoche says the focus of the workshop is to help improve safety in the barns and prevent accidents and fatalities.
Shannon LaRoche-Prairie Swine Centre
The hydrogen sulfide gas, of course, is present in the barns only when manure is agitated so when ever pit pulling procedures are being done in the barns or when manure is being transferred within the manure systems that would cause a concern or when pressure washing is done.
As you agitate that manure then the H2S breaks away from the manure particles and that's when the exposure may happen to workers.
We're seeing more awareness out there in the barns with management and with employees taking the courses.
We're seeing that there is hydrogen sulfide monitors being used when liquid manure is being agitated within the barns systems or within the liquid manure companies and we're seeing self contained breathing apparatuses being purchased and in all the barn locations.
t's a really a positive and encouraging thing that the course has brought about that awareness and that the industry is taking a proactive approach to providing the necessary safety equipment that needs to be there.
The four hour workshop covers everything from the properties of H2S to exposure limits to developing emergency response plans and rescue strategies.
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