Today I Learned

[fresh_42]

Zwiebel is onion. Zweibel has no meaning. It is unclear whether her name came from switching the vowels or, e.g., from the word Zweifel, which means doubt.

 

[Astronuc]

TIL about "silo gas," unfortunately from an accidental death of a agricultural worker. I don't know the details, but apparently he didn't start a blower/ventilator before entering a silo or storage container and was overcome by the gas inside, perhaps a combination of CO₂ and NO₂. The sad story emphasizes the need of proper safety training.

https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/forage/silo-gas-and-silo-fillers-disease/

Increased nitrates as a result of the dry growing season are a concern not only for livestock but for humans as well. Weeds and corn are naturally high in nitrates. Nitrate levels in corn are extremely high after a rain following a dry period. High levels of nitrates increase the potential for silo gas and silo-filler’s disease. A first step for reducing the nitrate level in forages for silage is to cut the plant higher than normal.

• Shortly after green plant material is ensiled, oxygen (O₂) gets used up by the crop and bacteria, and the crop begins to ferment. Some bacteria, that normally use oxygen, will use nitrates in the crop instead producing nitric oxide (NO), a non-lethal gas. As nitric oxide leaves the silage, it combines with oxygen from the air producing nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is heavier-than-air, and toxic to humans and animals. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has a yellowish-reddish brown color with an acrid, bleach-like smell. However, with all the other things around a silo, smell is not a reliable indicator.

 

[collinsmark]

[...] The sad story emphasizes the need of proper safety training. [...]

Indeed. I grew up in America's heartland, although not on a farm (I was a city boy). But my childhood friend's father worked in the grain silo industry most of his life. So my friend's father was an expert on silos, you could say.

And apparently, from what I was led to believe, there are several weird and unexpected ways do die in a silo. Many are almost certain without following safety precautions. Some are rather gruesome.

And when one first learns about silo dangers, it's surprising to hear. I mean, from the outside they don't look intimidating at all: just big, round, happy buildings. But seriously, safety first when it comes to grain silos. Seriously.

[Edit: I'm including grain bins together with grain silos above (I didn't distinguish between the two). Technically, bins and silos are different things, but they look pretty similar and are usually parts of the same system.]

 

[DaveC426913]

All I know about the perils of grain silos I learned from Harrison Ford in 'Witness' (1985).

 

[jack action]

TIL about "silo gas," unfortunately from an accidental death of a agricultural worker.

Around here, it is the manure pits that are disastrously fatal. The sad part is when one person dies, there is usually a second fatality from the person who sees the passed out person and then go into the pit to try to rescue them.

Quebec coroner warns of danger after couple dies from asphyxiation from manure gas on farm​

 

[gmax137]

When I was working in electric power plants the companies took these issues very seriously. Entry into tanks, pits, etc was governed by "confined space entry" procedures. Anyone doing this had to be trained and qualified. The air gets tested before anyone goes in. The main thing I remember all these years later is the part about seeing a coworker in trouble. Basically, don't attempt a rescue by yourself. There are people onsite with scott air packs, let them do their job... so they don't have to pull two bodies out.

 

[DaveC426913]

Around here, it is the manure pits that are disastrously fatal. The sad part is when one person dies, there is usually a second fatality from the person who sees the passed out person and then go into the pit to try to rescue them.

Quebec coroner warns of danger after couple dies from asphyxiation from manure gas on farm​

Well, TIL.