WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A wet harvest and cool temperatures may induce farmers to take shortcuts to safety this fall; Purdue University farm safety experts want to remind farmers to take their time.

"At this time of season, everybody wants to get the crops in before it rains or gets cold," said Bill Field, safety specialist and professor at Purdue. "Before you even get started on a job, make sure you have enough time to do it thoroughly and safely, and don’t rush yourself."

Although the number of overall farm-related fatalities is down in recent years, the number of entrapments is going up, Field said. Entrapment occurs when a worker falls or climbs into a grain bin or silo and cannot get out.

"The reason may be that we are moving to more grain being stored on the farm because it’s more economical. With bigger bins and more exposure, I don’t think the problem has peaked," he predicted.

Field has co-authored a new report that documents 33 grain entrapment cases in the United States in 2013, up from 20 in 2012. More than 1,100 entrapments have been documented since 1964. In Indiana last year, there was one fatality resulting from an entrapment.

More indicative of a trend is that the five-year national moving average of annual grain entrapments grew from 23 in 2002 to 38.6 in 2011, before it fell slightly to 36.2 in 2012. "Those numbers are troubling," Field said. "Entrapment is one of the most dangerous situations that can arise on a farm."

A situation that often leads to entrapment is storing damp grain that molds and then clogs a silo, said Klein Ileleji, crop storage expert and associate professor of ag and biological engineering at Purdue. "Wet and moldy grain will not flow freely through a silo during unloading," Ileleji explained. "Many entrapment accidents happen because people are tempted to climb inside the silo to break up clogs of wet and moldy grain, then lose their footing and fall."

He also reminded farmers to avoid putting their hands into a drying machine to remove an obstruction caused by wet grain. "Every winter we hear about people losing fingers or worse when they stick their hands in a snow blower to clear out ice or debris. The same principle applies to farm equipment – do not stick your hand in a working machine," he said.

In addition to the entrapment cases, there were 14 falls, 12 equipment entanglements and four asphyxiations in confined spaces nationwide in 2013.

One-fifth of all reported accidents in confined spaces involved a young or beginning worker under the age of 21, mostly male. No cases involving youth were documented in 2013. Field said he is determined to get the word out to farmers.

"Farmers need to recognize that there is real potential for entrapment and engulfment. When you’re involved in grain handling, it is no place for children. Bad things can happen," he said.

Driving a tractor, mower or ATV accounted for 8 out of 18 farm fatalities reported in Indiana last year. Older tractors without rollover protection are especially dangerous, Field said.

While more than 10 percent of Indiana farm families experience a significant work-related injury in a given year, he said there is room to be optimistic. Studies show that farming overall is becoming a safer occupation because of better technology and farm practices, as well as growing awareness of safety.

Field said safety information is just a click away on the Internet. In addition, he has written an extension publication on the topic of grain bin safety. Beware of Flowing Grain Dangers can be ordered through The Education Store at www.edustore.purdue.edu