With fall manure application season approaching, take some steps now to further develop a manure pit safety plan, and reduce your workload later in the season. Two types of signs are easy to obtain or prepare. This information pertains to pork producers, farm managers and manure applicators – help keep everyone safe!

Warning Tags

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. National Pork Board provides free warning tags that warn of manure agitation and pumping. These tags should be places at ALL entrances to all buildings and manure storage areas when manure is being agitated. Manure gases can travel to different areas and even rooms of a facility, so all persons need to be warned. The tags are available at the Pork Store:

(Source: the pork store)

Emergency Contact Numbers and Directions

In the event of an emergency, knowing who to call and clear directions to the accident site can save a lot of time and frustration. Post the following information next to phones in the facility. If your workers rely on cell phones, this information can be stored in the phone. Even low-end cell phones have a memo pad or contact list to store these types of numbers. 

• Emergency response telephone numbers: The emergency number 911 may seem second nature to most people. However, some phone systems require a number to dial out. Post the entire number, for example 9-911, by all phones. Direct numbers for more specific emergency responders, for example Poison Control, are important to have available near phones.
• Directions to the site: While the directions to the farm or field may seem straight forward to you, remember that the emergency responder dispatchers are not usually local. Have the complete farm address (5-digit number and street name), accessible and in readable forms so that anyone can provide them to the dispatcher.   

If you have any questions about manure pit safety, please contact Dr. Erin Cortus, Air Quality and Waste Management Specialist at 605-688-5144.