Keeping Workers Safe In & Near Grain Bins

Farmers workers across the U.S. face serious injury and even death due to the hazards involved with grain storage and handling operations. According to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), at least 26 workers on U.S. farms were killed in grain engulfments in 2010, the highest number on record. In the state of Ohio, three farm workers have been killed in grain-bin-related incidents so far this year.

“The nature of the business requires extra vigilance and attention to potential dangers and never overlooking preventive measures like using proper safety equipment,” says BWC's Steve Buehrer. The agency points to several simple measures that can save lives:

• Turn-off, disconnect or block off all mechanical, electric and hydraulic equipment particularly grain-moving equipment. Grain should not be moved while a worker is inside the bin as the suction created can engulf a worker in seconds.
• Do not “walk down” grain to make it flow. Grain movement is especially dangerous and greatly increases the risk of being engulfed in grain.
• Train all workers about the specific hazards of working inside grain bins.
• Provide rescue equipment such as winch systems specifically suited for bin rescue.
• Station a spotter or observer who is equipped and trained to perform rescue operations.
• Test the air inside the bin for oxygen content and the presence of any hazardous gases prior to entry. 

BWC offers resources regarding these practices and others to help prevent injuries, illness and fatalities associated with grain storage and handling operations.