Don’t become a statistic
As we approach the spring farming season, many are gearing up to get back into the field. Over two-thirds of U.S. grain is stored on the farm without OSHA standards for safety protocols. It is up to you to keep yourself, your employees, your spouse, kids and grandkids safe from grain bin hazards. Taking a few extra precautions can save lives.
Grain bin safety is something to always be aware of and even the most experienced farmers can become trapped in flowing grain. Grain acts like quicksand and can bury a worker in seconds, this is the reality of grain entrapment. On average, nearly two dozen people are killed each year in the U.S. in grain entrapment incidents.
4 seconds is all the time it takes for an adult to sink knee-deep and become unable to escape
20 seconds is the time it takes for an adult to become completely engulfed
The unfortunate reality is that more than fifty percent of grain entrapments are fatal. Most engulfment’s happen when unloading equipment is running. Taking some extra time to take the necessary safety steps will help protect you, your family and employees.
• Turn off and lock out all equipment and augers before entering a bin
• Monitor air quality
• Use a safety harness
• Develop a safety plan
• Never work alone
• Train anyone entering a bin on safety procedures
• Communicate clearly when working in or near bins
• Keep children out of grain bins and truck beds
The most dangerous scenarios around stored grain involve flowing grain, bridged grain and vertical grain walls. Other grain bin related injuries or deaths can come from respiratory hazards of grain, falls, electrocution, or dust explosions.
Have an emergency rescue plan in place and make sure all employees know what it is and what they need to do if it is put into action. Provide training to family and employees on the dangers of grain handling and what the safety precautions are. Check with your local fire departments and ask about grain rescue tubes. This is an important resource that can help save lives in an emergency. Ask to host a training event put on by a local fire department and invite local and area farmers to the event. Grain bin safety should be a part of every safety plan before you get back out into the field.
