Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
A team of researchers at the Prairie Swine Centre (PSC) in Saskatoon has been looking at ways to reduce hydrogen sulphide exposure among workers in swine buildings, and they have come up with some interesting results.
Bernardo Predicala is an Engineering Research Scientist at PSC and the project leader.
“Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a life threatening gas produced by the anaerobic degradation of liquid manure. Most of the H2S in manure pits remains dissolved in the liquid manure as long as the manure is not agitated. Previous research at PSC has shown that workers are at risk of H2S exposure when they perform manure management tasks in the barn, such as pulling pit plugs,” Predicala explains.
“An increasing number of workers in specialized pig operations now spend more time inside the barns on a continuous basis. In some cases, workers may be assigned to specific tasks related to manure management that can significantly increase their exposure to H2S. This is the case with workers assigned to manure management and maintenance of equipment in the barns, or crews assigned to power washing and pulling manure pit plugs.”
Predicala and his colleagues saw there was a need for economical and practical preventative measures to help ensure that the H2S levels do not reach hazardous concentrations in swine barns in order to protect the health and safety of both workers and swine.
“In conventional swine rooms, manure is typically accumulated in a manure pit located beneath the floor. With this set-up, the level of H2S is very minimal as long as the pit remains undisturbed and the ventilation system is working properly,” explains Predicala. “But when manure is agitated, such as when the pit drain plug is pulled to clear the manure out of the room, spikes of H2S can occur.”
Predicala’s team has come up with a promising remotely-operated plug pulling system that allows manure clearing without workers entering the room. This, in effect, eliminates exposure.
“The system can be integrated into current swine operations, and it brings the desired level of protection for workers.”
A second approach was tested based on the fact that H2S is water-soluble. It involved spraying water over agitated manure in order to put back H2S into a solution, instead of allowing it to escape in the air.
“Unfortunately, this experiment was inconclusive due to technical problems with the monitoring instrument. This particular method is now subject of a new study,” Predicala says.
A third method involves the use of a system of scrapers for frequent and more thorough clearing of manure from the pits.
“Because H2S levels are generally minimal when the manure is not stored for long durations, why not evacuate the manure as quickly as possible and ensure that the pits are completely cleared during drainage? The use of a scraper system proved very effective as a method of H2S control, reducing H2S levels by an average of 90 per cent.”
Predicala believes these measures will assist the swine industry in being both responsible and proactive, and will contribute toward its sustainability and expansion. Safety is a concern that can never be overstated.
For more information, contact:
Bernardo Predicala, Ph.D.
Research Scientist - Engineering
Prairie Swine Centre
(306) 667-7444
A team of researchers at the Prairie Swine Centre (PSC) in Saskatoon has been looking at ways to reduce hydrogen sulphide exposure among workers in swine buildings, and they have come up with some interesting results.
Bernardo Predicala is an Engineering Research Scientist at PSC and the project leader.
“Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a life threatening gas produced by the anaerobic degradation of liquid manure. Most of the H2S in manure pits remains dissolved in the liquid manure as long as the manure is not agitated. Previous research at PSC has shown that workers are at risk of H2S exposure when they perform manure management tasks in the barn, such as pulling pit plugs,” Predicala explains.
“An increasing number of workers in specialized pig operations now spend more time inside the barns on a continuous basis. In some cases, workers may be assigned to specific tasks related to manure management that can significantly increase their exposure to H2S. This is the case with workers assigned to manure management and maintenance of equipment in the barns, or crews assigned to power washing and pulling manure pit plugs.”
Predicala and his colleagues saw there was a need for economical and practical preventative measures to help ensure that the H2S levels do not reach hazardous concentrations in swine barns in order to protect the health and safety of both workers and swine.
“In conventional swine rooms, manure is typically accumulated in a manure pit located beneath the floor. With this set-up, the level of H2S is very minimal as long as the pit remains undisturbed and the ventilation system is working properly,” explains Predicala. “But when manure is agitated, such as when the pit drain plug is pulled to clear the manure out of the room, spikes of H2S can occur.”
Predicala’s team has come up with a promising remotely-operated plug pulling system that allows manure clearing without workers entering the room. This, in effect, eliminates exposure.
“The system can be integrated into current swine operations, and it brings the desired level of protection for workers.”
A second approach was tested based on the fact that H2S is water-soluble. It involved spraying water over agitated manure in order to put back H2S into a solution, instead of allowing it to escape in the air.
“Unfortunately, this experiment was inconclusive due to technical problems with the monitoring instrument. This particular method is now subject of a new study,” Predicala says.
A third method involves the use of a system of scrapers for frequent and more thorough clearing of manure from the pits.
“Because H2S levels are generally minimal when the manure is not stored for long durations, why not evacuate the manure as quickly as possible and ensure that the pits are completely cleared during drainage? The use of a scraper system proved very effective as a method of H2S control, reducing H2S levels by an average of 90 per cent.”
Predicala believes these measures will assist the swine industry in being both responsible and proactive, and will contribute toward its sustainability and expansion. Safety is a concern that can never be overstated.
For more information, contact:
Bernardo Predicala, Ph.D.
Research Scientist - Engineering
Prairie Swine Centre
(306) 667-7444
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