FACTS

1. Inside the pit, the manure undergoes anaerobic digestive fermentation to form fertilizer. The digestive process can generate four potentially dangerous gases:

• Methane
• Hydrogen sulfide
• Carbon dioxide
• Ammonia

2. The accumulation of gases within the confined space of the manure pit can produce an oxygen-deficient, toxic, and/or explosive environment. 3. Manure pits are designed as confined spaces with limited means of entry and unfavorable ventilation. The gases generated by the bacterial decay of the manure may accumulate sufficiently to create deadly oxygen-deficient (less that 19.5% oxygen), toxic, and/or explosive atmospheres. 4. Methane and hydrogen sulfide gases are generated naturally in all anaerobic manure […]