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Among the many risks faced by farmers, one of the most underestimated is entering confined spaces — such as water tanks, manure pits, and grain bins.
Entering a grain bin, a necessary chore for many farmers, is fraught with hidden dangers that can lead to tragedy in a matter of seconds. The immense pressure of the grain, the potential for toxic atmospheres, and the powerful machinery associated with these structures create a trio of threats that demand the utmost respect and caution.
Engulfment is one of the primary and most terrifying hazards associated with grain bins. Flowing grain behaves like quicksand. A person can be trapped in flowing grain in as little as four to five seconds and completely submerged in just 22 seconds.
Once engulfed, the pressure of the grain makes it impossible to breathe, leading to suffocation. The force required to pull someone out of waist-deep grain is over 600 pounds, making self-rescue impossible and rescue by others incredibly difficult and dangerous.
Unsafe atmosphere is an unseen hazard within grain bins. Spoilage of grain can produce carbon dioxide, which displaces oxygen, creating an environment where a person can quickly become unconscious and suffocate. Additionally, fumigants used to treat grain can leave behind highly toxic gases. Without proper ventilation and testing, a farmer can walk into an invisible and deadly trap.
Mechanical equipment used to move grain, such as augers and conveyors, also pose a significant threat. Accidental activation of this machinery while someone is inside a grain bin can lead to severe traumatic injuries or fatalities.
This blog will shed light on the safety procedures farmers should follow in order to safely enter a confined space.
According to the OSHA, a confined space is defined as a space that:
is large enough for a person to enter and perform work,
has limited or restricted means for entry or exit,
and is not designed for continuous occupancy.
You must consider other hazards that may be present apart from engulfment, unsafe atmospheres, and mechanical equipment. Some examples include:
Use of other equipment in the grain bin like a grain vacuum.
High grain dust levels (explosive atmospheres can be present).
The most significant way to reduce a hazard is to eliminate it. If you can’t eliminate the hazard, there are companies that specialize in silo or grain bin safety systems that minimize or reduce the need for confined space entry.
1. Turn off and lock out all power to the grain loading and unloading equipment such as turnheads, reclaim conveyors and augers.
2. Is the grain bridged or crusted? Use a long pole to break it up outside the grain bin.
3. Test the breathing air safety. Use a properly calibrated gas meter to test the air inside the bin for oxygen levels, combustible gases, and toxic fumes. The oxygen level should be between 19.5% and 23.5%. Never enter a bin with an unsafe atmosphere; you can be unconscious within seconds.
If the atmosphere is unsafe, can you ventilate the space by using blowers and fans to introduce fresh air prior to entry?
Are you trained, fit tested, and medically cleared to wear a supplied air respirator or self-contained breathing apparatus (like fire-fighters) to enter an unsafe atmosphere?
4. Ensure at least two people are present and will be available for the entire duration you will be in the grain bin. Consider if you may also need a third person.
5. Check all the equipment you need is available. Some examples include:
Gas meter
Body harness and lifeline
Communication for both parties, such as 2-way radios
Atmosphere supplying respirator
Fans or blowers
6. Have a pre-job safety meeting and discuss your rescue plan. A rescue plan must include emergency phone numbers and consider the time it will take for emergency responders to be onsite. Also, consider if they will be able to find the grain bin’s location. Further, think through the exiting the grain bin and getting down from there in an emergency situation.
Ensure you have taken all the steps necessary to keep everyone safe. If you have any doubts, take a step back and get someone else’s advice. Confined space incidents are often silent and fast — there’s little time to react.
7. The person outside the confined space must:
Continuously test the atmosphere with the gas monitor. Have additional tubing available so you can monitor where the individual will be working. At any time the atmosphere becomes unsafe, stop the entry.
Always maintain visual line of sight with the person working. If they exhibit signs of distress, stop the entry.
Ensure you can operate and retrieve the person with their lifeline or other device at all times. Stop the entry if you cannot.
Never try to rescue someone by going into the grain bin alone.
8. The person inside the confined space must:
Ensure they are wearing all the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and that it stays in working order.
Work as safely as possible. If grain starts to flow, start walking and stay near the outer edge of the bin. Get up to the ladder as quickly as possible. If you start to sink, signal the person outside to start retrieval or at a minimum secure your life-line.
If conditions arise that were not discussed in the pre-job safety meeting, stop the entry.
Maintain visual line of sight with the person outside and communicate frequently.
Stories of grain bin accidents are tragically common in farming communities. A momentary lapse in judgment or a shortcut taken to save time can have irreversible consequences.
By treating every grain bin entry with the seriousness it deserves and rigorously following these safety procedures, farmers can protect themselves and their employees from the unseen dangers that lie within.
Safety doesn't end with awareness; it requires preparation, training, and the right equipment.
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