Gas Sampling is Important to Agriculture and Horticulture
In your operations, you may encounter poor quality air that is dangerous to breathe. The atmosphere in manure pits, storage tanks, animal confinement buildings, cold storage buildings or other enclosed areas can be flammable, toxic or oxygen deficient. To protect yourself from possible illness or death, test the air before you or your workers enter into these areas.

OSHA requires that you know what contaminants your workers are exposed to and the levels of their exposure. Examples of ag/hort contaminants include:

• Ammonia - anhydrous or from animal confinement buildings
• Nitrogen Oxides - recently filled silos
• Carbon Dioxide - confinement buildings, manure pits, cold storage buildings
• Methane - manure pits
• Carbon Monoxide - internal combustion engines, manure pits, cold storage buildings, warehouses
• Chlorine Disinfectants - confinement buildings
• Hydrogen Sulfide - manure pits

Gas monitoring devices are helpful in determining the concentration of gases in the air before entering an area to perform work. Measurements taken will inform you if the area is safe to enter or whether further ventilation and/or respiratory protection is needed.