Asphyxiation Hazards

Silo gases may cause asphyxiation.

Asphyxiation is a condition in which the cells of the body do not receive a sufficient supply of oxygen, and death results. Hanging and strangulation cause death by asphyxiation because the victim cannot breathe. But even if someone can breathe freely, asphyxiation may still result if the air does not contain sufficient oxygen or if it contains poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide.

Silo Hazards

In silos, air circulation is minimal. Because silage normally converts oxygen into carbon dioxide, the enclosed space on top of the silage may become dangerously deficient in oxygen. Besides, silage can produce three different oxides of nitrogen, collectively known as silo gases. If a farmer enters a silo filled with such gases, asphyxiation may result, according to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industry.

Manure Pit Hazards

Manure pits provide temporary storage for animal dung. The manure produces hydrogen sulfide as a decomposition product. If large quantities of hydrogen sulfide accumulate in the manure pit, anyone who enters it may die of asphyxiation, according to Centers for Disease Control. If the area above the manure pit is enclosed and if high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide arise from the pit, the hydrogen sulfide may kill those who are within the enclosed area. This may occur if a farmer stirs the manure while it is being emptied, according to the Free Dictionary by Farlex.

Grain Bin Hazards

Asphyxiation can occur if a farmer enters a grain bin while the augur is emptying it. As the grain flows downward, the downward flow may pull the farmer underneath the grain. Another hazard occurs when the top of the grain is frozen and remains firm while the grain underneath is emptying. A farmer who walks on the apparently sturdy frozen surface may fall through, become submerged in the downward flowing grain and die of asphyxiation. Asphyxiation may also occur if the grain is unevenly distributed. If a towering mass of grain collapses while a farmer stands in an adjacent depression, the grain may bury and kill the farmer, according to National Ag Safety Database.

CO2 Delivery Hazards

Tankers must deliver carbon dioxide to customers, such as businesses that sell carbonated beverages. They must dispense the carbon dioxide into the delivery system of the customer. If the dispensing operation occurs in an enclosed place and if a leak develops so that the tanker breathes air containing 10 percent carbon dioxide for 15 minutes or more, asphyxiation and death may take place, according to OSHA.

Automobile-Related Hazards

If someone sits or sleeps in a parked car with the motor running, asphyxiation may result. A car running in an enclosed space, such as a garage, may also cause fatalities. Car exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an atom that reacts with the hemoglobin in the blood and renders it incapable of carrying life-giving oxygen from the lungs to the cells of the body. For this reason, even relatively brief exposures to carbon monoxide may be fatal, according to InspectAPedia.

References

• Washington State Department of Labor and Industry: Asphyxiation Hazards in Silo's, Grain Bins and Manure Pits
• The Free Dictionary by Farlex: Manure
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Farm Owner and Son Asphyxiated . . .
• National Ag Safety Database: Grain Bin Entrapment
• OSHA: Potential Carbon Dioxide (CO(2)) Asphyxiation Hazard

Resources

• Medicine Net: Definition of Carboxyhemoglobin
• InspectAPedia: Toxicity of Carbon Monoxide Gas Exposure
• Washington State Department of Labor and Industry