Name & Address with the Editor (Co Mayo)

DEAR SIR: I am not a farmer but I live next door to a small farm and at this time of the year the farmer is washing the slatted houses after putting the cattle in the fields. Like so many farmers, he works alone and if there was an accident nobody would know until it was too late.

Falling into a slurry pit is usually fatal, but may I suggest that if hose pipes were placed at intervals around the pit with one end at the top edge and the other some distance away from the pit, then in the event of a farmer falling into the pit at least there would be a source of breathable air while an escape was made.

Also, if there was at least a ladder placed in the pit during the time the cleaning operation was under way then there would be a means of climbing out of the pit.

Two letters should be key to survival – BE, breathe and escape. I know that the attitude is still that accidents always happen to other people, but maybe farmers could be gently reminded of some basic precautions that can be taken when cleaning slatted houses that will save their lives if that accident this time happens to them.