WELLINGTON COUNTY – Travelling through the countryside, there is one structure that is hard to miss.
These giant metal cylinders are grain bins, and while they may not be the leading cause of death and injury for farmers, they still pose a huge safety risk.
“The thing with grain bins, is that if someone does get trapped inside them, the carbon dioxide is what actually is the most threatening part of it,” said Safe Communities Wellington County program coordinator Christine Veit.
“They [farmers] get sucked in, but it’s the carbon dioxide that’s formed within the tub, so that’s when people will pass out.”
When working with grain inside of a grain bin there are certain protocols one should implement.
Never work alone
In most cases, the only chance of getting free from flowing grain is if you are rescued by another person.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the average time required to rescue a worker from a grain bin can be upwards of four hours, resulting in a fatality rate of nearly 62 per cent.
OSHA also states that in just 20 seconds, a grown man can become fully buried by the grain.
“The biggest issue is making sure that you’re working with people,” said Veit. “Through [the not-for-profit organization Workplace Safety and Prevention Services], there are a bunch of checklists that they have.
“And I know everybody kind of talks about checklists and goes, ‘Oh yeah, sure, a checklist is going to save me,’ but it is, it truly is.”
She added, “Obviously there are still farmers that will work by themselves, but there are ways to go about it and make sure that you are being safe even when you are alone, but the best thing is to work with people and let them know that you’re about to go and clean or do something with the grain bin.”
If you must work alone, Veit says it is essential to equip yourself with a harness and lifeline in case of an emergency.
“When you are working in the grain bin, you [need to] make sure you have a lifeline set up, so that it [the grain] doesn’t drag you in,” said Veit.
Never walk on grain to make it flow
When attempting to move grain inside of the bin, it is recommended to never walk on stuck grain to make it flow.
Instead, it is recommended that farmers use a rod or vibration system to break up clumped or stuck grain. These systems will allow the farmer to perform this work from outside the grain bin.
According to findings from North Dakota State University, a person cannot be pulled from flowing grain without the risk of injury to the spinal column if the grain is at waist level or higher.
The grain will have a very strong grip on the body and some research has shown that up to 400 pounds of pull is required to extract a body from waist-deep grain, which is more than enough force to permanently damage one’s spinal column.
Educate children
It is important to educate children on the dangers of grain bins to ensure they understand the bins are not toys.
Veit told the Advertiser it is important to let children know grain bins are strictly off limits.
While it may seem appealing to some children to play in the grain, it takes merely seconds for a child to become trapped and fully submerged, leading to an extremely high risk of suffocation.
“We need to [educate children] because they’re the future,” said Veit.
“We consider them to be ambassadors, so even though we may be stuck doing things one way, they will hopefully be able to teach us another way.”
According to the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), between 2011 and 2020, grain entrapment led to 27 deaths in Canada. This statistic includes children.
Check air quality
Before entering a grain bin, it is important to check the quality of the air inside the bin.
The risk of respiratory intoxication in grain bins is a serious concern due to the potential presence of toxic gases as a result of decomposing grain or the use of pesticides on crops.
Without proper ventilation, gases accumulate inside the bin, creating a dangerous environment for farmers who enter.
Exposure to the gases can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and, in extreme cases, death. They can also result in serious respiratory problems.
According to Safety Line Canada, to prevent damage to your lungs, it is recommended to check the air quality inside the bin before entering, to use gas detectors, and to equip yourself with a respirator.
