Safety Measures and Risk Management in Agricultural Confined Spaces: A Study on Farm in Iğdır Province, Using Bow tie and Matrix Methods

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 31 - 44, 30.06.2024

Okan Özbakır

https://doi.org/10.46876/ja.1471301

Abstract

In agriculture, confined space operations present significant hazards and increased risks to workers and emergency responders. When designing training initiatives to reduce confined space fatalities, it is imperative to assess human characteristics such as skill levels, gaps in understanding and attitudes toward risk in order to formulate effective programs. The aim of this study is to determine the safety practices and risk levels of farm owners operating in agricultural confined spaces in Iğdır province. To accomplish this, the first step was to semi-quantitatively assess the risks that can occur when working in confined spaces such as manure and silage storage facilities using a five-tier matrix, and to visualize the results using a bowtie diagram. In these confined spaces, the lack of atmospheric conditions was identified as the greatest source of danger, and therefore, these risks were prioritized (l: 5, s: 5, RS: 25). The risk of fire and explosion, which can be caused by the presence of contaminants in such areas, was assessed as quite high (RS: 20). Structured protocols or comprehensive frameworks are essential for identifying and mitigating the risks inherent in indoor work environments. Currently, there is a notable lack of an organized and reliable methodology specifically tailored to assess and manage the risks associated with working in confined spaces in agricultural activities. Recognizing this deficiency, it is proposed to establish procedural guidelines aimed at preventing and managing the risks associated with confined space work within the agricultural domain. The methodologies employed herein combine concepts and requirements outlined in various regulatory frameworks governing safe practices in confined spaces, with the goal of facilitating both risk assessment and management efforts. In addition, it is suggested that the personal proximity of ranchers to potential injuries in the field may serve as a critical indicator for improving safe work practices and risk awareness. This approach has the potential to enhance the safety knowledge of owners and their perception of risk-taking behaviors, thereby reducing the likelihood of injuries associated with agricultural enclosures.

Keywords

Agriculture, confined space, occupational risks, bow tie method

References

• Afefy, I. H. (2015). Hazard analysis and risk assessments for industrial processes using FMEA and bow-tie methodologies. Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, 14(4), 379-391.
• Akpınar, T., & Özyıldırım, K. (2016). Trakya Bölgesi’nde tarımsal faaliyette bulunan çiftçilerin iş sağlığı ve güvenliği açısından değerlendirilmesi. Çalışma ve Toplum, 3(50), 1231-1270.
• Aktuna, A. (2017). Tarım sektöründe çalışanların iş sağlığı ve güvenliği çerçevesinde bilgi, tutum ve algı düzeyleri: Tekirdağ Süleymanpaşa örneği (Master's thesis, Namık Kemal Üniversitesi).
• Beaver, R. L., & Field, W. E. (2007). Summary of documented fatalities in livestock manure storage and handling facilities, 1975-2004. Journal of Agromedicine, 12(2), 3-23.
• Botti, L., Duraccio, V., Gnoni, M. G., & Mora, C. (2018). An integrated holistic approach to health and safety in confined spaces. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 55, 25-35.
• Brown, W. K. (2011, June). Identifying confined spaces. In ASSE Professional Development Conference and Exposition (pp. ASSE-11). ASSE.
• Burlet-Vienney, D., Chinniah, Y., Bahloul, A., & Roberge, B. (2015). Design and application of a 5-step risk assessment tool for confined space entries. Safety Science, 80, 144-155.
• Cheng, Y. H., & Field, W. E. (2016). Summary of auger-related entanglement incidents occurring inside agricultural confined spaces. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 22(2), 91-106.
• Davis, B. R., & Berry, C. K. (2001). A guide to safety in confined spaces. Raleigh, NC: Department of Labor.
• DHA. (2023). https://www.dha.com.tr/gundem/su-kuyusunda-akima-kapilan-ciftci-oldu-2297860 (Erişim tarihi: 15.03.2024).
• Garcia-Aristizabal, A., Kocot, J., Russo, R., & Gasparini, P. (2019). A probabilistic tool for multi-hazard risk analysis using a bow-tie approach: application to environmental risk assessments for geo-resource development projects. Acta Geophysica, 67, 385-410.
• Güğercin, Ö., & Baytorun, A. N. (2018). Tarımda iş kazaları ve gerekli önlemler. Çukurova Tarım ve Gıda Bilimleri Dergisi, 33(2), 157-168.
• Günaydın, D., Vatansever, Ç., & Aktuna, A. (2018). Tarım sektöründe çalışanların iş sağlığı ve güvenliğine yönelik tutumları. İş, Güç: The Journal of Industrial Relations & Human Resources, 20.
• Hoppin, J. A., Umbach, D. M., Kullman, G. J., Henneberger, P. K., London, S. J., Alavanja, M. C., & Sandler, D. P. (2007). Pesticides and other agricultural factors associated with self-reported farmer’s lung among farm residents in the Agricultural Health Study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(5), 334-341.
• IEC 31010. (2009). International Standard Risk Management — Risk Assessment Techniques.
• Issa, S. F., Cheng, Y. H., & Field, W. (2016). Summary of agricultural confined-space related cases: 1964-2013. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 22(1), 33-45.
• Jacinto, C., & Silva, C. (2010). A semi-quantitative assessment of occupational risks using bow-tie representation. Safety Science, 48(8), 973-979.
• Khakzad, N., Khan, F., & Amyotte, P. (2012). Dynamic risk analysis using bow-tie approach. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 104, 36-44.
• Kirkhorn, S. R., & Schenker, M. B. (2002). Current health effects of agricultural work: respiratory disease, cancer, reproductive effects, musculoskeletal injuries, and pesticide-related illnesses. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 8(2), 199.
• Kirkhorn, S. R., & Garry, V. F. (2000). Agricultural lung diseases. Environmental Health Perspectives, 108(suppl 4), 705-712.
• Kleinfeld, M., & Feiner, B. (1966). Health hazards associated with work in confined spaces. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 8(7), 358-364.
• Murphy, D. J., & Manbeck, H. B. (2014). Confined space manure storage and facilities safety assessment. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 20(3), 199-210.
• Özel, C., & Güğerçin, Ö. (2020). Tarımda çalışan kadın işçilerin iş sağlığı ve güvenliği konusundaki bilgi düzeylerinin algı düzeylerine etkisi: İzmir örneği. Ç.Ü. Fen ve Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, 39(11), 87-96.
• Özkiliç, Ö. (2005). İş sağlığı ve güvenliği, yönetim sistemleri ve risk değerlendirme metodolojileri. TİSK Yayınları, Ankara.
• Riedel, S. M., & Field, W. E. (2013). Summation of the frequency, severity, and primary causative factors associated with injuries and fatalities involving confined spaces in agriculture. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 19(2), 83-100.
• Saud, Y. E., Israni, K., & Goddard, J. (2014). Bow-tie diagrams in downstream hazard identification and risk assessment. Process Safety Progress, 33(1), 26-35.
• Selman, J., Spickett, J., Jansz, J., & Mullins, B. (2019). Confined space rescue: A proposed procedure to reduce the risks. Safety Science, 113, 78-90.
• Semerci, O. (2012). İş sağlığı ve güvenliğinde risk değerlendirmesi: Metal sektöründe bir uygulama (Master's thesis, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü).
• SGK. (2024). Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu. www.sgk.gov.tr (Erişim tarihi: 15.03.2024).
• Stojković, A. (2013). Occupational safety in hazardous confined space. Inženjerstvo Zaštite, 137.
• Sulardi, S., & El-Ridho, N. K. (2019). Hazard identification and prevention methods on work in confined spaces. Identifikasi, 5(2), 142-151.
• TG. (2023). https://arsiv.turkiyegazetesi.com.tr/gundem/mardinde-feci-olay-15-metreden-bugday-silosuna-dusen-1009329 (Erişim tarihi: 15.03.2024).
• TRT. (2023). https://www.trthaber.com/haber/turkiye/kocaelide-tmo-silosundaki-patlamaya-iliskin-6-sanik-hakkinda-dava-acildi-843730.html (Erişim tarihi: 15.03.2024).
• Veasey, D. A., McCormick, L. C., Hilyer, B. M., Oldfield, K. W., Hansen, S., & Krayer, T. H. (2005). Confined space entry and emergency response. John Wiley & Sons.
• Wang, J., Liang, Y., & Zhao, Z. (2022). Effect of N2 and CO2 on explosion behavior of H2-liquefied petroleum gas-air mixtures in a confined space. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 47(56), 23887-23897.
• Yeşilbaş, İ. (2021). Kırklareli ilinde tarım sektörünün iş sağlığı ve güvenliği açısından değerlendirilmesi (Master's thesis, Kırklareli Üniversitesi).
• Yılmaz, N., & Şenol, M. B. (2017). İş sağlığı ve güvenliği risk değerlendirme süreci için bulanık çok kriterli bir model ve uygulaması. Journal of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of Gazi University, 32(1), 77-87.
• Yılmaz, Ö. (2010). Risk değerlendirmesi’nde yöntem tartışması. Toprak İşveren Sendikası Dergisi, S, 86, 16-19.
• Zhao, J., Manbeck, H. B., & Murphy, D. J. (2008). Computational fluid dynamics modeling of ventilation of confined-space manure storage facilities: applications. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 14(4), 405-429.