Allenton, Wi – Forty-five firefighters, EMS personnel and farmers gathered at the Allenton Fire Station over the weekend to participate in a very unique safety class focusing on Manure Pit Rescue.
Brian Freese presented an informative classroom session followed by hands-on training including recovering mannequins from a tank prop.
As the remaining farms in Washington County, Wi, have grown in size, the use of large volume pits to hold cattle and hog waste have grown as well.
There are enhanced dangers with manure pits which give off hazardous gases and present accessibility challenges with the location of mechanical equipment in confined spaces.
The training addressed procedures for safely entering the confined space of a manure pit to working around the area, etc.
First responders learned how to perform rescue operations in low-oxygen situations, including the importance of air quality monitoring before, during, and after rescue.
There was also proper use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), harnessing, rope rigging for below-grade rescue and the use of a rescue tripod.
Entry into the “trailer prop” was accomplished through an access port at the top of the trailer. This port is approximately the same size as most access holes found on working farms.
Freese emphasized the importance that any time someone is going to enter a confined space there needs to be TWO people involved, one that goes in, safely, and one that stays above to monitor.
Secondly whenever entering a confined space that individual needs to wear a harness and be attached to a rope which gives rescuers a quicker opportunity to locate the trapped person. Students had the opportunity to work through several evolutions in various roles with the one-of-a-kind training prop.
There was discussion of the three serious gases that can cause death of the farm worker and the first responder. Those gases are Methane [flammable/explosive], Hydrogen Sulfide [deadly at 100 parts per 1,000,000] and carbon monoxide.
It was emphasized that farmers and first responders need to be aware of the dangers of these gases.
Every year there are reports of workers [many times family members that are overcome by Hydrogen Sulfide]. These gases are not only in confined spaces but are found in the general area of pits where liquid manure is stored. Due to chemical makeup of all three gases, they are heavier than ambient air. With high humidity times or fog these gases tend to spread out.
Freese said 4-gas meters must by utilized throughout the rescue. He also said it is important for farmers and their employers to consider purchasing electronic meters to monitor the gases at their work place.
This two-session training was sponsored by the Washington County Farm Bureau along with the Kewaskum FFA Alumni, Washington County Fire Training Officers Association and the Dodge County Firefighters Association. Firefighters and EMS personnel in attendance came from Dane, Marinette, Waukesha, Dodge, Sheboygan, and Washington Counties.
