Agricultural work is dangerous – but good communication can save lives in Colorado |
Six people, including one teenager, died at a dairy farm in Keenesburg, Colorado, 35 miles northeast of Denver, on Aug. 20, 2025.
Four of the deceased were from the same extended family. The coroner’s report confirmed they died from hydrogen sulfide exposure after a manure pipe disconnected in an enclosed pump room.
After an investigation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited three companies present at the worksite for failures in training, hazard communication and worker protection.
Tight-knit families and rural communities across northern Colorado mourned the deaths. Community events were organized to benefit the families.
The OSHA citations highlight a broader and common challenge in agricultural workplaces: clear communication and training. Agricultural workers may not have adequate information about the hazards they face. They may not be trained to recognize those hazards and may not feel comfortable reporting unsafe conditions for fear of losing their jobs. They may also lack clear protocols when things go wrong.
We work at the High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety at Colorado State University. For more than........