24 THE CAAR COMMUNICATOR WORKER SAFETY It’s been described as acting like quicksand. Seemingly benign until it’s not, quickly sucking down anyone unfortunate enough to have stepped onto it. Even for those seemingly well-acquainted with grain bins and their risks, including flowing grain, bridged grain, and vertical grain walls, sometimes cockiness or forgetfulness comes to the forefront. It’s why there’s still a need for Canada: Be Grain Safe Week 2024, August 12–16, 2024. Despite it being called a week—only five days are being given to it—Canadian farmers certainly need to be reminded that grain bin safety is a year-round priority. Canadian Agricultural Injury data said that there are an average of four fatalities due to grain entrapment—i.e., suffocation—in Canada every year. According to a 2022 Purdue University Grain Entrapment Report, the US saw 42 fatalities and non-fatal grain entrapment cases, which was up from the 29 recorded in 2021 (an increase of 44.8 percent). Even one death by grain bin misadventure is one death too many. Bridge grain is the clumping of grain from moisture or mould, creating a space under the grain as it is being unloaded. Should a worker stand on the grain bridge, the weight would cause it to collapse, causing the worker to go under the grain and possibly suffocate. Vertical grain walls are also the result of wet or mouldy grain clumping together, causing an “avalanche” when it detaches, sometimes catching a worker unaware—and down they go. Regular grain checks, especially for spoilage signs, are critical. Safe storage practices include storing clean, dry grain and maintaining proper aeration are a must. The total number of confined space incidents increased by 25.25 percent over the past five years. Fatal cases dropped by 17.24 percent, but non-fatal cases rose by 56 percent. Even if fatalities dropped here in Canada, the fact that non-fatal cases rose highlights the need for enhanced safety practices. Safety measures are crucial on farms; they include: • posting clear warning signs. • limiting bin access. • working from outside the bin. GRAIN BIN SAFETY: ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR CANADIAN FARMERS Preventative safety measures Canadian farmers working with grain bins must know. Andrew Joseph, Editor The safest way to be in a grain silo is when it’s empty, in this view looking skyward. Last year four people died of suffocation inside a Canadian grain bin. daniel - stock.adobe.com
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