Managing Farm Safety and Health Video Series - Slurry Handling Safety

Livestock farming produces large amounts of organic waste which is a great source of organic nutrients but needs careful handling to prevent death and life-changing injury.
Open slurry and/or water tanks should be fenced to a height of 1.8m and secured including locked gates to prevent access. It is essential that you check the weather for wind speed before planning slurry agitation. Only agitage on a breezy day when there is considerable air movement as one lung full of Hydrogen Sulfide gas released during agitation can kill. Remember - evacuate, ventilate, agitate.
Handling slurry is one of the most hazardous activities on a farm. The main risk associated with handling slurry is being overcome by slurry gases, leading to poisoning, suffocation or drowning.
Machinery risks include impact or crushing when attaching the agitator or tanker and entanglement on the PTO.
6% of farm fatalities are due to drowning or suffication.