Grain Bin Safety
Gain bins are valuable assets to many farming operations, as they are often viewed as a savings account for farmers. Farmers load grain into their bins and wait for prices to rise at the elevators. However, during this waiting period, farmers must keep moisture levels just right to get the most money for their grain. Because of this, grain might spoil inside the bin, resulting in the farmer or a worker having to enter a very dangerous environment.
Grain Entrapment and Engulfment
Entrapment: When a person has sunk low enough into the grain or other media, that they cannot escape on their own and must be rescued.
Engulfment: When a person has become completely submerged in grain or other media.
Causes of Entrapment or Engulfment
Flowing Grain: Moving grain acts like quicksand when a person enters a bin and can result in a person becoming entrapped very quickly. This often occurs when a person enters a bin with an auger running or if another person turns on an auger while the person is in the bin. A person has 22 seconds before they are engulfed in a flowing grain situation.
Grain Bridge Collapse: When grain gets wet, it often forms a crust on the top. After auguring grain out of the bin from the bottom, a void is formed between the crust layer and the grain. When a person walks on the crust, it cannot support their weight and the crust may collapse, causing them to become entrapped in grain.
Grain Wall Collapse: Much like grain bridging, grain along the edge of the bin may get wet and form a wall of crust. At the end of the season, this wall must be broken down for bin cleanout. When a person enters the bin to begin to take the wall down, the grain may fall on them causing them to become entrapped.
Avoiding Entrapment or Engulfment
Target Zero Entry: Avoid entering in the bin whenever possible. Often times, people must enter a bin when there is poor grain management present. By maintaining moisture content correctly and managing grain better, fewer people have to enter a bin.
Lockout/Tagout: Before entering into a bin, ensure that no power is running to the augers and they cannot be turned on while a person is in the bin.
Never Go In Alone: Before entering a bin, bring at least two other people with you. One person should be at the top of the bin with eyes on the person in the bin and the other person should be on the ground to help relay information to fire and rescue team members in the event of entrapment or engulfment.
Lifeline and Tether: Always tie off to a high anchor point before entering a bin and wear a harness! This line and harness may be the only thing that prevents you from sinking lower into the grain in the event of an entrapment or engulfment.
