Farmers warned not to rely on slurry alarm
The Minister revealed he has spoken at length to Teagasc about slurry gas meters and alarms, and said there are many in Teagasc’s advisory service or among those who deal with farm safety who would say that although these are interesting pieces of technology, they can sometimes be more damaging than beneficial.
“When one has an alarm, one assumes that if it is not going off, everything is safe.
“It is in the very nature of farms that it might be fine for the first couple of weeks, but the battery may go dead, or the alarm may be disconnected.”
“When people are agitating slurry in a shed, they will say they are fine, because the alarm will go off if there is a problem.”
“The reality is that in many cases the alarm will not go off on time, and by the time it does go off, it may be too late.”
He said there is a place for technology, and there may be a place for alarm systems, but it is no replacement for sensible, practical guidelines on issues — such as wind direction and ventilation to ensure when doing the practical things that have to happen on a farm, such as agitating slurry, people do it in a way that prevents the inhalation of gases in the first place.
“When one has an alarm, one gets sloppy. What is needed is behavioural guidelines on how to agitate slurry.
“One does not agitate slurry when one is in the same building as it.
“It should be done from the outside, and when the wind direction is appropriate.”
“The Teagasc advisers to whom I have spoken about this, and who are experts in farm safety, are passionately opposed to this technology, but there are others who would make a strong case for it.
“I am not pretending I am judge and jury here. All I am saying is that there is a downside to an alarm system.”
“It is not like a smoke alarm, because people can survive in smoke for quite a while. The gases that come from agitating a slurry tank can knock one out in five seconds.
"Once that happens, one is in deep trouble. Other people will come in and try to rescue the person and they will be knocked out also.”
Minister Coveney was addressing Seanad Eireann on its Public Consultation Committee Report on Farm Safety.
He revealed that farm safety is one of his highest priorities this year.
“When it comes to farm safety and saving lives, this year needs to be the year of change.”
Referring to tractor drivers as young as 12 years old, he warned, “We need to consider making some changes that may cause problems but perhaps are necessary in order to change attitudes and outcomes in terms of the number of tragedies that occur, many of which our farm families struggle to deal with for years afterwards.”
