By ANN ALLEN
Indiana Correspondent

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Watching a bin of grain flow downward to create a funnel effect as it empties into an auger is fascinating. Getting trapped in that funnel can be deadly.

So far this year there have been more reported cases of grain entrapments than in any year since 1978, when Purdue University began documenting cases. Of the 46 entrapments in the first 10 months of 2010, 25 have been fatal.

Thirty-three occurred on farms and 13 at commercial grain facilities. These numbers don’t surprise extension farm safety specialist Bill Field.

“We predicted there would be an increase in the number of entrapments,” he said, attributing that to poor grain quality issues many Midwestern farmers faced in 2009. “There is a close relationship between out-of-condition grain and the increased probability of entrapments.”

Recognizing the danger entrapments present, the National Ag Safety Database has developed a program designed to raise awareness of the danger of flowing grain and ways to prevent entrapment. NASD notes three types of entrapment:
Flowing grain: During unloading, the grain in a bin flows downward from the top center of the bin, creating the funnel effect that draws material and objects down the auger. Depending on the size of the auger, it can take only 2-3 seconds for a person to become emerged up to the knees in flowing grain.

By that time, the person is helpless; the flowing grain continues to act like quicksand and can pull the worker under, resulting in suffocation.

Collapse of a vertical grain bridge: A bridge can form when grain on the surface is moldy or frozen together to form a hard, thick crust. When grain is unloaded from that bin, a hollow cavity forms under the grain bridge.

If anyone attempts to walk to the bridge, the additional weight will cause the crust to collapse and the person could be partially or completely submerged instantly. The collapsing grain can actually move the victim 4-5 feet from the point of entry where he or she was last seen.

Avalanche of a vertical grain wall: Grain in bad condition can cake in large vertical columns against the bin wall.

Workers trying to dislodge the grain by poking it with a stick or shovel can cause the wall to break free, resulting in an avalanche that can completely bury the workers. So what can be done to prevent these accidents?

•Warn family, employees and visitors of the dangers of flowing grain.

•Place warning decals on bin entrances and gravity wagons.

•Have an established form of nonverbal communication (equipment noise will drown out calls for help).

•Turn off and lock out power controls to unloading conveyors before entering a bin.

•Use a body harness with a lifeline that can withstand 5,400 pounds of stress, secured to a point outside the bin and have at least two observers during bin entry.

•Secure grain storage areas to prevent unauthorized entry.

•To detect if a bridge exists, look for an inverted cone or funnel after unloading from a bin. Do not stand on the bridge; use a pole or weighted line to free the bridge.

•Manage grain to avoid conditions that cause spoilage and bridging.

•If the bin must be entered (in the case of vertical grain wall), lower the person from the top of the bin so grain can be dislodged as they descend into the bin while staying above the column. Be prepared for the entire grain wall to break fee and fall at any time.
The simplest prevention is to never enter a grain bin while the unloading auger or suction tube is running. In the event an accident does occur, the Farm Safety Assoc. recommends:

•Turning on bin aeration fans to provide as much air as possible for the victim. Call the local rescue squad to get help.

•Remove grain from the bin as rapidly and orderly as possible. Don’t try to “dig” a buried victim free, because of the large amount of material involved and the tendency of grain to backflow.
Cut large openings around the bin’s base. Be alert for fire if a cutting torch is used. Lacking cutting equipment, use the corner of a tractor loader bucket to ram holes in the bin wall.

•Cut emergency openings four to six feet above ground to reduce possible grain buildup around the outside of the bin. Space openings uniformly around the bin to reduce risk of structural collapse. Once the victim is uncovered, bin openings can be closed to allow safe access by rescuers.

•If the victim is partially submerged, a rescue squad member can be lowered into the bin to reassure the victim and to attempt to attach a body harness or lifeline. The lifeline is intended to prevent further sinking. Rescuers should not try to pull the victim free with the line, since the drag of the grain could cause further injuries.

•Check the victim’s airway for grain and administer oxygen if necessary.

•Construct a shield if there is danger of further grain collapse.
In Ohio, grain elevators in Miami County donated a lifesaving device they hope never will be used: A Liberty Rescue Tube to facilitate removing victims from grain bins.
“This (entrapment) is a preventable thing, but it seems to be on the rise nationwide,” Piqua Fire Department member Vice Ashcroft told the Piqua Daily Call.

States with the most documented grain entrapments this year are Illinois with 10, Minnesota with eight and Iowa and Wisconsin with five each. Because many non-fatal grain-related entrapments go unreported, Field estimates the total number of actual cases could be 20-30 percent higher nationwide. The National Grain Entrapment Database has recorded more than 800 fatal and non-fatal entrapments since 1964.