As corn silage harvest comes to a close and grain harvest nears, growers need to be aware of safety precautions to prevent grain engulfment, according to safety experts from Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
The issue is of particular concern this year as higher moisture levels in some crops could lead to more out-of-condition grain at storage time, which in turn can increase the chance for grain bin disruptions and potential engulfment, said Andrew "Dewey" Mann, safety research associate for Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college.
"With cooler conditions over much of the growing season this summer in the region followed by a damp fall, the way things are looking right now we're hearing from some growers that moisture levels are at 28-32 percent," Mann said. "Some growers have started harvesting already, and they have to get that grain harvest down to safe storage moisture levels.
"Corn needs to be at safe storage moisture of about 15 percent, or cooled quickly to reduce biological activity (spoiling grain)."
This lessens the potential for grain bin engulfment because out-of-condition or spoiled grain can impact the flow of grain in the bin, Mann said. Grain bin engulfment can occur when growers enter the grain bin to determine why grain flow has stopped or slowed, he said.
"Many anecdotal reports and case studies of grain engulfment include farmers who, after finding the flow of grain stopped, will enter the grain bin alone with the auger continuing to run and begin to poke at the lodged grain from above with a long pipe, bar or board," Mann said. "But when the pipe breaks through the caked grain over the grain intake, grain flows and the farmer is immediately buried in the grain."
In fact, in 2010 there were 51 grain entrapments on farms and commercial facilities nationwide, half of which were fatal, he said. Already in Ohio, there have been two fatalities this year alone involving grain bins and silos, Mann said.
To that end, members of the college's agriculture safety team are promoting National Farm Safety week Sept. 15-21 to promote programs and other resources available to help protect farm families and farm workers from farm-related injuries and deaths.
The week-long communication efforts, Mann said, include daily promotions via social media of the farm-safety related topics. More information on agriculture safety and farm safety week can be found at http://agsafety.osu.edu.