It’s harvest time, and farmers are hard at work shelling corn and cutting soybeans, and transporting their grain either to store or for direct sale. Whatever the destination, this grain will eventually find it’s way to a grain bin, where certain safety precautions must be taken to avoid serious injury or even death. Below are some statistics relative to grain bin safety, as well as some tips on how to avoid problems:
-Since 1970, more than 800 Grain Entrapment related injuries, including many deaths, have been reported in the United States.
– Forty one Kentucky deaths have been reported due to entrapment in grain storage from 1986 to 2021.
– A 6 foot person could be completely buried in 25 seconds with a 10 inch output auger.
-It would require approximately 900 pounds to remove a 165 pound person engulfed in grain over his head. Once grain levels reach a victim’s knees, trained assistance is necessary for their removal.
How It Happens
– Unloading/Flowing
If you stand on moving grain, it reacts like quicksand and buries the victim in seconds.
– Bridging Entrapments
The crusted top surface of a grain pile collapses due to the weight of the person. The victim can become injured in the fall and possibly buried in grain pile.
Prevention
• Use inspection holes or grain level markers.
• Use a pole to break up grain bridges from outside the bin.
• Enter a bin only if absolutely necessary.
• Lockout/Tag-out power to augers before entering bin.
• Use a body harness secured to the outside of the bin when entering.
• Have at least two observers during grain bin entry.
• Use hand signals to communicate and make sure everyone you are working with knows the hand signals, too.
• Work from top to bottom when cleaning grain bin walls.
Follow these tips to help prevent accidents. For additional information on Grain Safety, please contact your local Cooperative Extension Service office.
