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Manure Pit Rescue

Manure storage can hold gases and conditions that overcome people quickly. This article explains the hazard in general terms and points you to official guidance.

Why are manure pits so hazardous?

Manure storage, whether under a barn floor or in an outdoor tank, can release gases that affect breathing, especially when the material is stirred or pumped. Some of these gases cannot be seen and may not be noticed until it is too late.

Specific gas properties and safe levels are published by NIOSH, OSHA and university extension programs. Look them up there rather than trusting numbers you have heard in conversation.

Hazards can be present even when the system has been quiet for some time, and even for people who have worked around it for years. Familiarity does not make a space safe, which is why safety agencies stress the same rules for everyone.

What should I do if someone collapses at or in a pit?

Call 911 immediately and say it is a manure pit emergency. Give the exact location and the best entrance, and send someone to meet responders at the road if you can do it without going near the hazard.

Do not climb in after the person, and do not lean over the opening to look. Many people have been hurt trying to help. Wait for trained responders and follow the dispatcher's instructions.

• Call 911 first
• Keep everyone, especially children, away from the opening
• Send a person to the road to guide responders
• Tell responders what was being done, such as agitating or pumping

Why does agitating or pumping raise the risk?

Moving manure can change what is in the air around a pit very quickly. Many safety agencies advise planning the work around ventilation, weather, wind and who is on the property.

Your manure system manufacturer's manual and your extension agent can describe what applies to your set up. This guide will not give ventilation numbers, because they differ by system.

Weather, wind direction and the layout of the barn all play a part. Ask the people who built or serviced your system what the manual says about ventilation and about keeping animals and people out during pumping.

What does prevention look like in principle?

Prevention starts with keeping people out of the pit and doing as much as possible from the outside. Covers, grates, secure lids, fences and warning signs reduce the chance of a fall or a casual entry.

Planning matters too. Choose a time when few people are around, keep children and visitors away from the site during pumping, and make sure someone knows when the work starts and when it ends.

• Barriers and secured lids on openings
• Clear warning signs in the languages your crew speaks
• A work plan that names who is on site and who can call for help
• Training for every person who works near the system

Who should be trained and what kind of training?

Anyone who works around manure storage should learn the hazards from a recognized program. Hands-on courses are offered by agricultural safety centers, extension services and fire service technical rescue instructors.

Rescue training for a specific space is a different matter and is for professionals. Farmers help most by supplying information and access, not by attempting the rescue.

Teenagers and young adults helping at busy times need the same training and clear rules as adults. Check youth work rules with the U.S. Department of Labor and confirm there before assigning any task near a manure system.

How can I work with local responders before an emergency?

Ask your fire department to visit and look at your pits and tanks. Share the layout, the location of access points and any known problems. Responders can only plan for what they know exists.

Add the farm's exact address and your emergency contacts to your written plan, and make sure every worker knows where to find it.

Share the contact list from your emergency plan with the fire department so they can reach you quickly. Mark the entrance you want responders to use, and keep the lane clear and the gate left open or staffed during any pumping job.

How do we support people after a close call?

A close call or a loss can be frightening for everyone who was there. It is normal to feel shaken, guilty or numb. Talk to someone you trust and give yourselves time.

If distress continues, in the US you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and in an emergency call 911. Your doctor or faith community can also help.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.