Prioritize Grain Bin Safety this Harvest

Prioritize Grain Bin Safety this Harvest

Towering grain bins are a familiar sight across the landscape, but they can conceal a deadly risk.

Each year, farmers are injured or killed in grain bin entrapments. With harvest approaching, farmers are urged to take life-saving precautions to protect themselves and others.

A Silent and Swift Danger

Grain bin accidents can happen in seconds. A farmer entering a bin to check moisture or break up clumps may not realize the grain has crusted or bridged. When it collapses, the farmer can be buried in flowing grain, which acts like quicksand. In only four to five seconds, a person can become trapped and in less than 20 seconds, completely engulfed.

According to Purdue University’s Agricultural Confined Space-related Injuries and Fatalities report, in 2024 there were 34 grain-related entrapments in the U.S., 14 of which were fatal. This represents a 25 per cent increase from the previous year.

While in Canada, there were 27 fatalities due to asphyxiation from grain or soil between 2011 and 2020, according to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting data.

Safety Tips that Save Lives

“Farmers are aware of the danger but are in a hurry, especially before and during harvest. And that is when tragedy can strike,” says Dan Neenan, Director for the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), in the U.S., which offers safety training for farms, fire departments and businesses.

“We are producing, storing and moving more grain than any other time in U.S. history. Unfortunately, we are seeing more grain engulfment and farm injuries and fatalities,” he says.

If an emergency occurs, Neenan says these safety tips are crucial for survival.

- If trapped, stay calm.

- Call 911 and provide details including the bin’s address.

- Use a hat to cover mouth and nose. Assume a fetal position to shield the face and create an air pocket.

- Prepare for emergency responders to arrive. If in a remote area, send someone to meet them.

- If the victim is below the grain, turn on the aeration system to increase air flow and aid survival.

- If the victim’s head is above the grain, talk to the victim from outside the bin, tell them to keep still and do not turn on the aeration fans.

In Western Canada, Bill McCombs, CEO of Trans-Care Rescue Ltd., which offers grain bin safety training to firefighters, recommends that farm operations adopt these safety practices.

- Train all farm workers on bin hazards and emergency procedures.

- Post GPS location to give to Emergency Dispatch as bins may be remote.

- Post warning signs at all bin entry points.

- Restrict access to bins and piles.

- Work from outside the bin and above the highest point of grain.

- Aim for zero entry into the bin.

- If entry is necessary, have an observer present.

- Lockout/tagout all grain handling equipment before entering the bin. 

- Use a safety harness secured to an external anchor point.

“Farmers are the critical link in the chain of survival. To me, it’s about education. The fire departments need to educate farmers about what to do in an emergency like this,” says McCombs.

A growing number of rural fire departments in Canada and the U.S. are being trained on grain bin rescues and equipped with grain rescue tubes and augers designed to extract trapped individuals. This can be challenging, however, since rural rescue crews are often voluntary with limited funding. McCombs and Neenan encourage farmers to reach out to their local emergency services to see if they offer grain bin safety training and equipment in their community.

Grain Bin Maintenance is Key

Taking a proactive approach to grain bin maintenance from season-to-season helps prevent grain condition-related accidents in the long-run.

According to Chris Chartier, AGI aeration expert, farmers should be extremely cautious of bridged or hung-up grain, which can create dangerous voids. “Bin walls and floors carry physical signs of grain conditioning issues like moisture buildup, mold or insect activity. When you inspect them, you can see it clearly,” he says.

Having proper aeration, bin vents and fans that meet commodity and climate conditions can help keep you safe by preventing grain conditions that require you to enter the bin, says Chartier.

“Grain bin loading, unloading and aeration equipment should be maintained on a regular schedule as recommended by the manufacturer to ensure safe and effective operation. Always make sure to lock out and isolate all energy sources before servicing any equipment,” he says.

In-Bin Tech Prevents Accidents

Technology makes a preventative difference in saving lives.

A digital grain storage monitoring system like AGI BinManager allows farmers to remotely track and manage conditions inside bins ensuring “zero-entry.” The system prevents dangerous grain crusting by monitoring real-time moisture and temperature levels and automatically operating fans and aeration systems as needed.

Ryan Thompson, AGI Strategic Accounts Manager, says this results in safer, more efficient grain storage and removes any reason for farmers to enter a bin. “All too often, grain is loaded into the bin either too dry or wet and faces the risk of spoiling during storage,” he says. “That is when unsafe conditions begin. We want to prevent farmers from going into the bin.”

AGI BinManager has the unique ability to allow farmers to condition their crops, prevent spoilage and bring them to a profitable targeted moisture level – all from a cell phone or computer. “In the end that means zero-entry for safety to people, enhanced product quality and a higher return on investment for the farm,” adds Thompson.

U.S. farmers interested in AGI BinManager can sign up for a free bin assessment that provides personalized recommendations to improve storage management, enhance safety and maximize grain quality.