Posted September 22, 2022 | By: Nutrien Ag Solutions SH&E

Ensure your family knows the risks of working around grain bins and other confined spaces.

June 2018 – 6-year-old dies in grain silo incident

August 2021 – 3 brothers die after getting trapped in a manure pit

November 2021 – Webster County coroner identifies victim in fatal grain bin incident

August 2022 – 1 dead after getting trapped inside of grain bin

Unfortunately, all of these are actual headlines from various news reports around farming communities. Even more disturbing, these are only a fraction of the total grain bin incidents that claim the lives of our farm neighbors on all too many occasions. The highest incident rate falls into the 11 to 20-year-old range. This doesn’t have to continue if we just take a few simple steps.

What is a Confined Space?

It’s anything that is large enough to enter, has limited means to enter/exit, and is not intended for anyone to continuously work in. Common farm confined spaces are grain bins, grain elevator pits, silos, manure pits, large spray tanks or nurse wagons, auger carts, feed mixers, liquid storage tanks, etc.

Confined Space Hazards:

• · Entrapment or engulfment from contents in the space
• · Lack of oxygen due to depletion or toxic atmosphere that has accumulated
• · Entanglement in machinery inside of the space
• · Heat exposure

Steps to Control the Risks

1. Stay out! When designing systems/structures, consider how to manage internal issues without the need to enter the confined space.
2. Identify! Label everything around the farm with warning signs that read “No Entry.”
3. Restrict! Use fences, gates, locks to prevent someone from entering without checking.
4. Isolate! Ensure that all machinery that an entrant might encounter has been completely de-energized and locked out.
5. Test! You can’t enter unless you know there is sufficient oxygen and only with sufficient oxygen content can a meter tell you if the atmosphere is hazardous.
6. Plan! Never enter alone and provide a means of rescue. Rescue must be able to be completed from outside of the space to avoid additional exposure.

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Posted September 21, 2022

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