Farms are always busy and exciting places, especially when it’s harvest time. But they can also be extremely dangerous, with even experienced workers losing their lives in grain bin accidents. Managing large grain bins is a high risk activity that exposes workers to serious and even life threatening incidents like fires, injuries from machinery, suffocation from engulfment and entrapment, and falls from or into the grain bins.
Such falls result in serious injuries and could even lead to fatalities. Here are some important tips and best practices that can help improve farmer safety, ensure grain bin fall protection, and prevent large grain bins accidents:
· To begin with, make sure that all workers on the farm are well-informed on the potential hazards of handling grain storage bins, and are equipped with the right training to handle dangerous situations.
· Also make sure that any worker entering the bin has been issued with a permit which clearly states that all the precautions required for bin management have been implemented.
· Before a worker enters the bin, make sure that all electrical equipment linked to the bin is turned off. If the stored grain is being emptied or moved around, standing on it while it’s in motion can be extremely dangerous because the grain works like quicksand and can bury the worker inside.
· Test the air inside the bin before entering it to ensure there are no combustible or toxic gases and vent any hazardous gases. You must also make sure that there is sufficient oxygen for the worker inside.
· If possible, and affordable, provide workers entering the grain storage bin with a harness or a safety chair that is secured to a lifeline and helps with grain bin fall protection.
· Any worker entering the bin must be accompanied with a partner whose only task is to be an observer outside the bin and track the worker going inside the bin. This observer must be equipped with all the tools and communication devices needed to provide immediate assistance in case of an accident.
· Some grain storage bins might be under a bridging condition, or the stored grain might have accumulated in a way where the sides could easily collapse and bury a worker. In such cases, it is better to not permit workers to enter the bin or grain silo.
· Workers entering the bin must keep their hands free at all times. If they must carry any equipment or tools, they can use a tool belt or a backpack, so that their hands are free to use a rope or hold on to the ladder while climbing.
· Farm owners can also consider investing some money into installing ladder cages or steps with rails that make it easier for workers to climb. Several farmers are already modifying their existing ladders for additional safety.
· Regularly inspect all ladders for corrosion, wear and tear, and damages like missing or loose bolts, bent, cracked or broken rungs and so on. Even if one rung is damaged, it could mean that the area around it is also compromised. Check thoroughly and avoid any worker entering the bin until the damage has been fixed.
· Workers assigned to grain storage bin management should be advised to conduct a slow and steady inspection, without rushing it. They should face the ladder and avoid overreaching beyond the rails to prevent the risk of falling over.
· Avoid using mobile phones or even walkie-talkies when climbing, staying focused on the task and keeping hands on the rails for support.
· The worker’s shoes should be strong rubber shoes with slip resistant soles. This will help prevent slippage and will also prevent foot fatigue which is common when large storage bins are involved.
· Here’s an important aspect that must not be ignored. Weather conditions affect bin conditions, not just the grain inside, but even the outside of the bin. Moisture in the form of rain, dew, condensation, snow and ice on the ladder and platforms reduce friction and increase chances of slippage. Moisture-coated steps and rails are dangerous and reduce the tight grip needed for hands and feet. In such cases it is best to wait for surfaces to dry. Workers should also use gloves that are slip resistant.
· Also wear clothing that matches the current weather conditions.
· And finally, climbing large storage bins is a tedious and physically-demanding task that can be taxing and challenging for older farmers. If your farm has younger workers who are fit and can handle heights, it might be a better idea to let them climb the storage bin.
Wrapping Up
Farm accidents related to grain storage bins are quite common as news reports show, but the good news is that they can be prevented with the right steps and precautions. Whether your farm, and the grain storage bins, are old or new, it’s never too late to enhance worker safety by implementing the right kind of training, establishing an adequate fall protection system, and making sure you have the right tools and equipment in place to prevent falls. Assess your bin safety critically and identify potential risks. Don’t wait for an accident to happen before you consider bin safety. As a farm owner or manager, it’s your task to offer grain bin fall protection and make sure each worker gets home safe.
Download the GrainStore Pro farm management app from Google Play Store and App Store to learn more about farm safety.