Grain Entrapments Up in 2014

New Tools Help Save Lives

There were 38 documented entrapments resulting in 17 deaths in 2014, compared with 33 entrapments and 13 deaths in 2013, according to Purdue's annual "Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-Related Injuries and Fatalities." (DTN/The Progressive Farmer file photo)

OMAHA (DTN) -- The number of grain bin entrapments and resulting fatalities in the U.S. increased last year to the highest level since 2010, due in part to the large amount of grain stored on-farm, Purdue University reported Wednesday.

There were 38 documented entrapments resulting in 17 deaths in 2014, compared with 33 entrapments and 13 deaths in 2013, according to Purdue's annual "Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-Related Injuries and Fatalities."

This was the highest recorded total since 2010 when there were 59 entrapments and 26 deaths.

Entrapments were reported in 16 states in 2014, mostly in the Midwest. Minnesota had six documented incidents while Indiana and Iowa had four each. Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota each reported three, while Michigan had two and Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina and North Carolina had one each.

Bill Field, professor of agricultural health and safety, said in a Purdue University news release that the number of documented entrapment cases has increased for several different reasons. For starters, more grain is being stored on-farm and workers with little experience moving stored grain are at greater risk.

"Dealing with a mountain of grain can be very hazardous," Field said in the news release. "If you're working around grain for the first time and you might not be aware of the risks involved, the potential for an accident is much higher.

In addition, Field said the number of documented entrapments has increased in recent years partly because of better reporting.

P[L1] D[0x0] M[300x250] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]

"Over the past few years, the surveillance effort was expanded to include not only entrapment in grain but other types of agricultural confined space incidents," he said in the release.

There were 70 total confined space incidents in American agricultural facilities last year compared with 67 in 2013. In 2014, there were 38 entrapments, 12 falls, nine fire-related injuries, eight entanglements and three asphyxiations.

Confined space incidents were reported in 20 states in 2014, compared with 17 states in 2013.

Minnesota and Ohio led the nation with nine reported confined space accidents each. Ohio's total included seven workers who were injured in a fire inside a grain storage unit.

Indiana, Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin reported five cases each. There were four cases each in Michigan, Iowa and Pennsylvania.

North Dakota and South Dakota each reported three confined space cases, while Kanas, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and New York had two each. Missouri, Mississippi, South Carolina and Idaho had a single case in 2014.

NEW TOOLS HELP SAVE LIVES

Modern technology is helping first responders when they deal with grain entrapment incidents. Devices such as RES-Q from GSI offer aid in rescuing victims.

The RES-Q tube is designed to fit around the victim of grain entrapment to stop the flow of the grain toward the victim and to block any additional pressure which could be created from rescuers. Once the tube is in place around the victim, the limited amount of grain inside the tube is removed, allowing the victim to be free of a potentially deadly situation. More information can be found on the company's website: http://www.grainsystems.com/…

Other equipment companies sell similar rescue tube devices.

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board and Grain and Feed Association of Illinois developed a smartphone app that uses the phone's GPS system to locate the nearest grain rescue tube. The Grain Rescue Tube Locator can be found in both Apple and Android app stores. More information on the app can be found here: http://goo.gl/…

For more information on the grain entrapment report and Purdue's agricultural confined spaces program, visit www.agconfinedspaces.org.

(RQ/AG/CZ)

P[L2] D[728x90] M[320x50] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[R1] D[300x250] M[300x250] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[R2] D[300x250] M[320x50] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
DIM[1x3] LBL[article-box] SEL[] IDX[] TMPL[standalone] T[]
P[R3] D[300x250] M[0x0] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]