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Manure pit injuries: Rare, deadly, and preventable.
Daniel M Hallam1, Junlin Liao, Kent Choi
1Department of Surgery, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock
|September 19, 2012
Summary
Manure pit incidents, though rare, are highly fatal due to asphyxiation. Active prevention strategies are crucial to reduce occupational deaths in agricultural settings.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Safety
- Occupational Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Confined spaces like manure pits pose significant risks in agriculture.
- Previous incidents highlight the dangers of entering hazardous environments without proper precautions.
Observation:
- Two workers lost consciousness and subsequently died after entering an underground manure pit.
- Emergency services responded rapidly but could not prevent fatal anoxic brain injury.
Findings:
- Review of Iowa Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program Data Base revealed a higher occupational mortality rate in agriculture (7.4/10,000) compared to non-agricultural jobs (3.1/10,000).
- Asphyxiation is the primary cause of death in incidents involving sewage or livestock waste handling.
Implications:
- Manure pit injuries have an extremely high fatality rate, emphasizing the need for targeted safety interventions.
- Active prevention, including proper training and equipment, is the most effective method to decrease mortality from such agricultural hazards.
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