GREEN COUNTY — Working with any kind of grain — especially when it’s stored in a bin — poses life-threatening hazards.

Understanding those hazards and knowing how to protect yourself from harm helps prevent serious injury or death.

Bob Aherin, Ph.D. and Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois, Agricultural Safety and Health Program and AgrAbility Unlimited Program, says becoming trapped in flowing grain one of the most hazardous aspects of grain handling.

“Getting caught in a grain auger as you move grain from a wagon to the bin or becoming entangled in a sweep auger on a bin floor are also involved in grain handling incidents,” Aherin said. “Lack of adequate guards on augers and failing to cut power to the sweep auger when you’re inside the bin can lead to these kinds of accidents.”

Additional risks related to working around grain bins include falling off a bin, either from the bin roof or from a ladder on the bin. Because bins and ladders are typically made of steel, weather conditions such as ice, rain, or fog can increase the risk of a slip, trip or fall from a ladder or bin roof.

Flowing grain produces dust, which includes mold spores and other organic particles that can trigger allergic reactions when they’re inhaled. Potentially, inhaling this type of dust, whether it happens on a regular basis or over a long period of time, can lead to permanent lung damage and/or chronic lung disease.    

“Toxic dust particles can be less than one micron (one one-thousandth of a millimeter) in size,” Aherin said. “You won’t even see it. That’s why it’s critical to use appropriate respirators when working with grain.”

Since 2018, grain bin deaths have been trending upward. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that, from 2018 to 2019, instances of grain entrapment rose by 27%. The number of grain-related deaths rose by 53% during that same period.

During harvest season, the number of grain bin deaths tends to increase. Aherin said understanding the hazards and taking every precaution to avoid grain handling incidents are a life-and-death matter.

“One of the main issues related to grain entrapment occurs when the grain in the bin is out of conditions and it’s bridged inside the bin,” Aherin said. “A small percentage of farms have a grain storage system that features tools to break up the grain without entering the bin. But anytime a person enters a bin when the auger is running in an attempt to break up the grain, the risk of serious injury or death is high.”

No one should ever enter a grain bin without having completed the following safety steps:

De-energize and disconnect, lockout and tag, or block off all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic equipment, especially grain-moving equipment in the bin.

Do not empty or fill the bin while someone is inside it.

Put on a full-body safety harness.

Have a secure attachment to a lifeline that is positioned and of sufficient length to prevent a worker from sinking further than waist-deep in grain.

Have an observer outside the bin who is prepared to call for emergency help if necessary.

Ensure that communication between the person inside the bin and the observer is maintained.

Prior to entering the bin, test the oxygen content and the presence of hazardous gas.

Resolve any atmospheric conditions before entering the bin. 

Anyone caught in a flow of grain has between two and four seconds before they are entrapped up to their knees. The pressure of the grain against a body is so great that it’s impossible to pull yourself out of it. It may also not be possible for a standby observer to rescue someone who’s trapped. About 60% of the time, people entrapped in grain do not survive. 

“Never enter a grain bin unless it’s an absolute necessity,” Aherin said. “Follow every possible safety precaution to avoid a tragedy.”

Additional grain handling safety resources can be found at www.grainsafety.org, https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/grainstorageFACTSHEET.pdf, or www.ngfa.org (National Grain and Feed Association).