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Faunsdale, AL | Nitrogen oxides.
https://extension.psu.edu/silo-gases-the-hidden-danger
My non chemist understanding is it reacts with moisture in lungs to make nitric acid not to mention there may be no oxygen in the confined space because of CO2 production
Mandatory to have lots of ventilation or full breathing air supply and mask if you encounter it. It’s not like ammonia filter mask, there may not be any oxygen in the “air” in the confined space.
I can understand how it happened if they were trying to get the roof replaced while silage had not settled and was still stacked up high enough to stand on. Usually it’s ok while you’re still filling since the top layer is fresh chopped forage and hasn’t started fermenting yet. It somewhat traps and filters the gas production from the lower layers of forage. I’ve never dealt with a harvestore, just concrete stave silos with the typical dome shaped tin roof. Ventilation is usually pretty good in top of full silo as long as the blower is still going.
If silo is partially full, the ability to ventilate the bottom of the deep cylindrical space above the top of the silage is questionable or at least takes longer. Modern silage distributors we used have a setting that deflects air being blown in, straight down the wall under the distributer, so that helps.
The safest thing is to always have a large volume of forced air being pushed through the space on top of the silage or just stay out for a minimum of 2 weeks. That’s not always possible for lots of reasons, so ventilation is the best solution.
Can get gassed if you get too close to silage bag opening, but you have to try harder to get hurt compared to entering a silo. You’re not from the right area of Texas if you don’t see any of the old farms with silos still standing.
Edited by ccjersey 9/8/2024 13:35
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Local farm fatalities today
