A26-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 9, 1994 Part_3_Qf fety Preventive .asures Ens f . arr This is the last of a series. then for » brief period of time. V If in doubt about any procedure, 1 ulctl 1 Editor’s Note: The previous the operator should wear a respira- allowing chf two articles in the series exa- tor—not a dust mask or an air fil- an the farm' mined fanners’ experience with ter » but a self-contained, oxygen exposure to silo gas and molds, supplied breathing apparatus. ‘ Reporting of the incidents and If the silo must be entered before the actual incidents themselves fo® 45 or so minutes of running the Pesticide dusts, mists. have decreased over the years, blower, it should be entered only vapors, and gases The final installment examines wearing the self-contained oxygen safety measures farmers can use respirator. when working with silos. Other hazards which the respira- "‘SiT tor can protect against include “to '£**> ANDY ANDREWS exposure to the toxic molds from orfieiddust, Lancaster Farming Staff baled hay and in silage, and untreated sr COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. unloaders ’ syndrome, which is Silo safety should be simple. exposure to dust from silage. Ammonia Now there is an organization Often, the mold and dust exposure that wants farmers to know how to over a long period of time caq Hydrogen sulfide (manure protect themselves while filling or cause a syndrome known as “far- gas) unloading silos. mer’s lung.” A good respirator "Respiratory Hazards In The will prevent that Nitrogen dioxide (silo gas) Farm Environment” is a little bro- "The fact that there are a lot of Welding fumes chure that you can keep in the back hazards out there is just accepted pocket of your jeans. While it may by most farmers as part of farm- Spray paint mists be too small to swat flies or to act ing,” said Dennis Murphy, Penn as a good fan on sweltering sum- State professor of ag engineering. r , mer days, the information inside is According to Murphy, farmers or extremely valuable for protecting should consider wearing protec- machinery exhaust) your life. tion devices such as the respirators The brochure, available from a lot more often —an investment Fumigants the New York Center for Agricul- that will pay off, over the long run, tural Medicine and Health, indi- in better health, cates that a person’s lung is parti- But even some conditions can cularly sensitive to environmental be too dangerous. Murphy said dangers. that even a self-contained appara- a co . workers to Quit When a silo is filled, forage lus may not be sufficient if a far- . Stay out of freshly filled silos begins to work —to ferment. As a mer enters directly into a silo with- we eks result, oxides of nitrogen begin to out some kind of pre-ventilation of . A 1 mnthc b , b f build up andaccumulate in pockets the silo. entering a recently filled silo, in the silo. The reddish-brown gas Obviously we don’t want peo- . Ke | p fo a ' d straw . in can be seen, but often is odorless pie in that atmosphere, because it s the bam J and powerless. too dangerous, ’ ’ he said. A leak in A small amount breathed in the mask could occur and the far- * Use a dust mask (NIOSH- or deeply can be deadly, because it mer could still be overcome and MSHA-approved) when working robs the lungs of oxygen. Oxygen “end up with serious injury.” in dusty situations, can’t get to the heart. The heart Murphy said that “risk can be • Keep ventilation fans running stops beating. managed. There’s a lot of evidence in the bam. A silo, once filled, should be that we can educate and increase ’lf you use a bedding chopper, immediately leveled off. Many awareness and knowledge about always wear a mask, experts agree there is no excuse hazards,” he said. • Never attempt a rescue into a whatsoever to wait, even a short Making that education translate gas-filled situation. Always get length of time. If for some reason it into farmer action is another help. cannot be leveled off right away, challenge. . Avoidance of breathing then a blower should be activated But Penn State is pursuing a hazards may save a life, and run for about 30-45 minutes study to see what kind of educa- For more information, contact before anyone enters the silo to tional approaches really make a the New York Center for Agricul level off silage or haylage. difference out on the farm to tural Medicine and Health. 1 Many fire departments, accord- change the hazards and risks of the Atwell Rd., Cooperstown, NY ing to silo gas victim Rodney Mar- farm to prevent more injuries and 13326, (607) 547-6023; in N.Y. tin, have self-contained breathing death as a result of silo gas and (800) 343-7527. units. These must be worn, even if mold exposure. For farmers who want to start a the farmer will only open doors in For now, farmers can do the fol- silo safety program, keeping up the chute to vent the gases. lowing, courtesy of the New York with the latest information on safe- AH people and animals should Center for Agriculture Medicine ty is a good start. The International be kept completely clear of the and Health, to prevent breathing Silo Association, based in Lafayet chute only the operator, wear- troubles on the farm: te, ini, has available an updated ing the unit, should enter, and only • Avoid cigarettes and encour- version of its “Silo Operator’s |Ji| General Tips For Preventing Breathing Troubles I f Keep children away from the silo and f—u . „ , . I' I if i adjoining area for at — Z 2 Close the (end J . ft least two weeks SlHflßft Mmf U 3.. V after silage has the barn 111 lllillE Vri' been pul in silo 3 If entry into a silo becomes riMBBSBPH pEF? necossa, VV oushould 4 Keep /•P'l slf you use a - Ventilate all silo areas U lf ventilation bedding /{hi- -get the help of a second fans running [ . chopper £ti adult and laX JlfUpjj in the barn always weai f'jpQ • wear a dust mask 6 Never attempt iM. g „ k ■Ok 1,1,0 3 7 Keep forage (nToSh'oi'msha 'I l7 T* 10 " r . For more information ronl/u I the Now lO Avoidance of York Center for Agncullural Mcdu mo and •9 Avoid breathing health 1 Atwell Rd, Coopeistown NY ■Dfl \ cigarettes and hazards may 13326. (607) 547 6023 mN Y <mn jBHJHV/ 1 w » dreiies ana A*— 343 7527 or the Penn state Ao I encourage CO- \ - Engineering Department 246 Ag workers to quit n 9 inGenn g Bldq Unvorsitv Path Measures Ensure Farmer Safety Around Silos Silo San:iv Series Protect Your Lungs When Working Around A Silo The following chart details the protection necessary for working in different condi tions on the farm. Note that different masks are required for different tasks. Mold dust, grain dust, • A NIOSH-approved mechanical filter respirator or dustfmist mask approved for use with manure dust, dust from toxic dusts. poultry operations, road or field dust, and untreated sawdust • A NIOSH-approved chemical cartridge respirator or gas mask with added pre-filter. For extremely high concentrations, where the oxygen level may be low, wear a supplied-air respirator. Refer to pesticide container label for additional requirements. • A NIOSH-approved chemical cartridge respirator or gas mask approved for use with ammonia. • Supplied-air respirator approved by NIOSH. • Supplied-air respirator approved by NIOSH. • A NIOSH-approved mechanical filter respirator approved for use with fumes. • NIOSH-approved mechanical filter respirator approved for use with spray paints or organic vapor cartridge with paint pre-filter on chemical cartridge respirator. > NIOSH-approved gas mask or supplied-air respirator. • CAUTION: Fumigants are highly penetrating and some can penetrate the rubber and plastic parts on respirators. In addition, some are colorless and odorless and give no warn mg or exposure. Many respirators approved for pesticides are NOT approved for protection against fumigants. For the best protection, completely avoid fumigants and treated areas yourself, and leave entry into treated areas to trained professionals. Manual,” which includes a section on silo gases and diseases. This is one of the most comprehensive and extensive compilation of facts and figures available regarding what sUo gas is and how farmers can protect against it. Much of this information is highly recom mended by ag engineers and silo specalists from around the coun try. For more information, contact Drew Freeman. International Silo Association, 219 N. Fourth St., Regional Christmas Tree Growers Meeting Set SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (Schuylkill Co.) Christmas tree growers and individuals interested in growing Christmas trees are in vited to a program sponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension and Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association. Dr. Paul Heller, Penn State Uni versity extension entomologist, will discuss the research being conducted on Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid. Also, a spray coverage demonstration will be held with water and oil sensitive paper. Rayanne Lehman, Pennsylva nia Department of Agriculture en tomologist, will give an update of the latest insects found on Christ mas trees in Pennsylvania. Philip Staudt, Pennsylvania De partment of Agriculture pesticide 'program, will give an update on Newsome Joins AJCA REYNOLDSBURG. Ohio The addition of Waymon C. New som Jr. to the staff of Americn Jer sey Cattle Association has been announced by Executive Secre tary Calvin Covington. Newsom will join the field staff as a part time area representative. Newsom will work with Jersey Marketing Service in managing MUC IT DOB A BODY GOOD; Lafayette. IN 47902-0560, (317) 742-0083. Many silo safety signs are avail able from silo manufacturers across the country, free of charge. Contact your silo manufacturer for more information. Also, Penn State has an array of information on silo safety. Contact Penn State Agricultural Engineer ing Department, 246. Agricultural Engineering Building, University Park, PA 16802, (814) 865-7685. pesticide rules and regulations pertaining to Christmas tree pro duction. Jeff Hill and manufacturing representatives will demonstrate equipment needed to operate a modem Christmas tree plantation. A representative of the Pennsyl vania Christmas Tree Growers Association will give an update on the activities of the association. The meeting will be held Thurs day, July 21, starting at 1 p.m. at the J.C. Hill Tree Farms, RL 895, RR 1, Orwigsburg, Pa. This meet ing will qualify for credits toward pesticide recertification. For more information, contact Geoige P. Perry, Jr., Extension Agent/Horticulture. Penn State Cooperative Extension - Schuyl kill County, 199 University Drive, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972-2201, (717) 385-3431. public sales and will also provide field service in Texas. He has as sisted with many JMS sales on an “as needed” basis for several years. In addition, Waymon own ed and managed a successful Jer sey herd from 1970-1990. Waymon is an alumni of East Texas State University and resides in Mt. Vernon, Texas, with his wife Diane.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers