The deaths over the weekend of three members of a farming family in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland have led the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland to issue a warning to farmers working with slurry tanks.

Whilst the exact circumstances surrounding the weekend’s tragic events remain largely unknown, HSE NI has issued a warning and begun an investigation into the deaths. The three tragic deaths took place during what HSE NI has called the worst period in living memory for farming accidents; there have been 23 fatalities over the past 20 months on farms in Northern Ireland.

Throughout Britain, farming remains the most dangerous profession, with the highest number of fatalities per worker, and amongst the highest number of workplace deaths and accidents outright.

In response to the tragedy which took place this weekend and another similar incident in June, HSE NI has moved to alert farmers to the dangers of working with slurry. The executive has published a leaflet on the hazards of disturbing or mixing slurry, which releases noxious gasses including methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. These can be lethal to humans and animals.

Some of the poison gasses released from slurry do not have a smell and high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide can paralyse the sense of smell. These gasses can cause symptoms in a short space of time. HSE NI has therefore warned farmers not to rely on smell as an indicator of the presence of harmful gasses.

In its leaflet, the health and safety watchdog makes recommendations for dealing with slurry, including purchasing a pocket sized meter to monitor gas levels, particularly hydrogen sulphide, and never entering a slurry tank without “wearing breathing apparatus with its own air supply and [ensuring] you are connected by harness and lifelife to two people outside".

Harry Sinclair of the Ulster Farmers’ Union said that, although information and legislation to improve health and safety on farms are already in place, any moves towards reducing the number of farm accidents in Northern Ireland and the wider UK would involve a change of mindset. He said, “Many people believe ‘this will never happen to me.’ This [tragedy] has shown how close it is to home. It could be any family in Northern Ireland in this position today.”

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