Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Issuing the Technical Guidelines for Risk Prevention and Control of Livestock and Poultry Manure Treatment in Limited Space Operations (Trial)
In recent years, various regions across the country have vigorously promoted the resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure, continuously improved the supporting facilities and equipment for manure treatment in livestock and poultry farms (households), and deeply rooted the concept of green development in animal husbandry. But with the increase of limited space such as manure treatment facilities, the risks and hidden dangers of gas poisoning in the process of treating livestock and poultry manure have become increasingly prominent. In order to effectively improve the safety production awareness of practitioners in manure treatment, guide the establishment of source risk prevention and control mechanisms, effectively respond to emergencies, and prevent personnel injuries and fatalities, our department has formulated the "Technical Guidelines for Risk Prevention and Control of Livestock and Poultry Manure Treatment in Limited Space Operations (Trial)". We are now issuing it to you. Please follow the instructions and increase training and publicity efforts based on the actual situation to ensure the safety of life and property of livestock and poultry breeding practitioners.
Limited space operation for livestock and poultry manure treatment
Technical Guidelines for Risk Prevention and Control (Trial)
1、 Scope of application
This guide is applicable to livestock and poultry farms (households) engaged in limited space operations for livestock and poultry manure treatment.
2、 Basis for formulation
Work Safety Law of the People's Republic of China
Animal Husbandry Law of the People's Republic of China
Regulations on Pollution Prevention and Control in Large scale Livestock and Poultry Farming
Terminology for Livestock and Poultry Breeding Environment and Waste Management (GB 25171)
Safety Regulations for Operations with Oxygen Deficiency Hazards (GB 8958)
Head protection helmet (GB 2811)
Fall Protection Safety Rope (GB 24543)
Long tube respirators for respiratory protection (GB 6220)
General Technical Requirements for Workplace Gas Detection and Alarm Devices (GB 12358)
3、 Definition
Limited space for livestock and poultry manure treatment: A space constructed by livestock and poultry farms (households) during the treatment of livestock and poultry manure, which is enclosed or partially enclosed, relatively isolated from the outside world, has narrow entrances and exits, poor natural ventilation, and is prone to the accumulation of toxic, harmful, flammable, and explosive substances or insufficient oxygen content. Including storage facilities for liquid livestock and poultry manure such as oxidation ponds, septic tanks, and biogas digesters, as well as storage facilities for solid livestock and poultry manure such as enclosed manure treatment workshops and vertical aerobic fermentation tanks.
4、 Risk category
a. Gas hazards
(1) Risk of poisoning from toxic and harmful gases. Fermentation of livestock and poultry manure can produce toxic and harmful gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Hydrogen sulfide concentration exceeding 10mg/m ³ can cause harm to the human body, exceeding 150mg/m ³ can cause permanent damage to the human body, and exceeding 1390mg/m ³ can lead to sudden death ("electrocution" death). Ammonia concentration exceeding 30mg/m ³ can cause harm to the human body, exceeding 430mg/m ³ can cause permanent damage to the human body, and exceeding 1750mg/m ³ can be life-threatening.
(2) Risk of combustible gas explosion. Anaerobic fermentation of livestock and poultry manure produces methane, which can accumulate at a concentration of 5% to 15% in a limited space and may explode when exposed to open flames or static electricity.
(3) Risk of hypoxia and suffocation. Fermentation of livestock and poultry manure consumes oxygen, leading to a decrease in oxygen content in limited spaces. When the oxygen content is below 17%, it can cause breathing difficulties, and when it is below 9%, it can cause people to lose consciousness or even die in a short period of time.
b. Physical hazards
(1) Drowning. The liquid level of livestock and poultry manure in a limited space is relatively high, which may cause drowning accidents during personnel operations.
(2) Falling from a height. The limited space is relatively high, and personnel may experience falling accidents from heights during operations.
(3) Mechanical injury. If there are operating mechanical equipment in a limited space, mechanical injury accidents may occur during personnel operations.
5、 Risk and hidden dangers
a. Without ensuring safety, enter a confined space for discharging, cleaning, and maintenance.
b. Unauthorized entry into a confined space for rescue without taking effective protective measures.
c. Use a fire source in a limited space and its close surroundings.
d. Loose cover plates, damaged coverings, lack of surrounding fences, and unused explosion-proof lights in confined spaces.
e. During the homework period, the temporary replacement of workers did not undergo safety briefing.
6、 Risk prevention
a. Preparation before homework
(1) Make good preparations for material reserves. Equip with necessary protective equipment such as safety helmets, safety ropes, and air respirators, and check if the equipment is available before starting work. Conditional breeding farms (households) can be equipped with portable gas detection equipment.
(2) Conduct personnel training effectively. Regular safety production training should be provided to personnel working in confined spaces, with a focus on the hazards of confined spaces, safety operating procedures, use of protective equipment, emergency rescue knowledge, etc.
(3) Prepare a homework plan. A homework plan should be developed in an appropriate manner, clarifying homework responsibilities, homework time, risk assessment results, safety protection measures, and emergency rescue plans.
(4) Conduct a thorough safety briefing. Emphasis should be placed on conducting safety briefings before and during personnel exchanges, clearly informing the receiver of the hazardous conditions, safety measures, emergency rescue, and other information at the work site.
b. Protection during homework
(1) Ensure proper ventilation and air exchange. Before and during homework, sufficient ventilation and air exchange should be continuously carried out in confined spaces to ensure that the concentration of relevant gases in the work environment reaches the safety production threshold before starting work. For poorly ventilated confined spaces, mechanical ventilation should be given priority.
(2) Do a good job of gas detection. After ventilation and air exchange, detection equipment or other applicable methods should be used to detect the gas concentration in the confined space, with a focus on detecting gases such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, oxygen, etc. Only when the gas concentration meets safety production requirements can work be carried out in the confined space.
(3) Take good safety precautions. When conducting confined space operations, personnel should correctly wear and use protective equipment such as air respirators, safety ropes, and helmets. Safety isolation barriers and other facilities should be set up around the homework area to prevent unrelated personnel from entering.
(4) Be responsible for on-site monitoring. During homework, two or more dedicated personnel should be assigned to supervise the site, closely monitor the condition of the workers, maintain smooth information flow, and immediately carry out scientific rescue when abnormalities are found.
c. Recovery after homework
(1) Conduct a thorough personnel count. After the homework is completed, the number of workers should be counted in a timely manner to ensure the safe evacuation of all personnel from the confined space.
(2) Carry out on-site cleaning. Dismantle the safety isolation facilities set up during the operation process and restore the limited space and surrounding environment to their original state.
7、 Emergency response
a. Develop emergency plans
(1) Livestock and poultry farms should develop emergency rescue plans. The key points include emergency organizational structure, responsibilities of rescue personnel, emergency rescue supplies, rescue response processes, etc., and regular drills will be conducted based on actual situations.
(2) Livestock and poultry farmers should proactively understand the risks of working in confined spaces, retain contact information for local emergency centers, and negotiate communication signals and emergency rescue methods with employees or supervisors before starting work to ensure timely detection of abnormal situations and accurate implementation of emergency rescue.
b. Carry out emergency rescue operations
(1) Once a confined space operation accident occurs, the supervisor should immediately activate the emergency plan, report to the responsible person of the enterprise, cooperative or household head in a timely manner, and call 119 or 120 for emergency assistance. After rescue, personnel should be sent to the nearest medical institution for treatment as soon as possible.
(2) When rescue personnel carry out rescue operations, they should try to rescue outside the limited space as much as possible. If it is necessary to enter the rescue, mechanical ventilation should be used to continuously force ventilation inside the limited space. Rescue can only be carried out after ensuring their own safety and wearing necessary protective equipment. Blind rescue is strictly prohibited.
