A County Armagh farm contractor had a lucky escape while mixing slurry on Tuesday when birds in the shed dropped dead from the sky.
Christian Lester, 17, from Scarvagh Contracts based in Armagh was working on a customer’s farm mixing slurry when the drama unfolded.
Accompanied by another person for safety reasons, Christian was mixing slurry in a well ventilated shed when he noticed a lot of birds flying around inside the shed.
All the livestock had been taken out of the shed but when two birds fell from the sky before his very eyes, Christian knew there was a problem.
He has warned other farmers or contractors to be on their guard when mixing slurry as the gases can be fatal.
He said: “We were mixing slurry for the customer near Armagh on Tuesday around 4pm.
“Safety is paramount when mixing slurry because of the carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide gases.
“The shed was well ventilated and all the cattle had been removed. We keep the doors and windows of the tractor that is mixing closed at all times.
“However, we noticed a lot of birds, thought to be chaffinches, flying around the shed.
“All of a sudden one of them dropped from the sky dead and landed on the shed floor.
“Then we noticed another one had died and had fallen onto the floor as well.
“At first I didn’t really understand how this could happen but it didn’t take me long to realise it most likely was the gas that got to the birds.
“We always use two people when mixing slurry for safety reasons. The mixing went on ahead but we stayed well out of the way until it was finished.
“Even when we switched off the tractor we stayed outside for some time to let the air clear.”
A number of gas detectors are available on the market to help farmers and contractors detect these harmful gases.
Christian, like many other farmers, does not use these devices but this latest incident has made him more cautious about slurry gas.
“We always keep our distance from the pump when we are mixing slurry. Plus, no one is ever in the tractor when mixing even with all the windows and doors closed.
“It’s the first time I ever seen that happening and I hope it’s the last!”
Back in September 2012 Nevin Spence, 22, sadly died when he fell into a slurry tank along with his brother Graham, 30, and dad Noel, 52, on their farm in Hillsborough, Co Down.
Also, in June 2014 eight year old Robert Christie lost his life when he was overcome by fumes as he and his father Robert snr mixed slurry on a farm near Dunloy.
The Health and Safety Executive NI said: “Slurry gas is a mixture of gases including methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide.
“The most dangerous part is hydrogen sulphide. This is extremely poisonous to people and animals. A high concentration knocks out your sense of smell. It also causes difficulty in breathing then disorientation.
“Collapse and death can occur after only a few breaths at high concentration of gas because it displaces air from your lungs and also affects the nervous system.
“A facemask will not help! Filter type masks are not suitable. Any person who enters a slurry tank must wear breathing apparatus with its own air supply. “Such work is a specialist operation and is best left to fully trained competent contractors. They must be properly trained to use the equipment.
“The equipment must be regularly maintained, and the person entering the tank must be connected by harness and lifeline to two people outside the tank.”
