The Illinois Department of Agriculture is working with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal are encouraging Illinois farmers to take some time to recognize Grain Bin Safety Week this week. Farmers are asked to review safety practices while working in and around grain bins.

According to studies done by Purdue University, more than 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported with a fatality rate of 62% in the past 50 years.  In 2010 at least 26 US workers were killed in grain engulfment accidents.  This is the highest number on record.  According to research, it only takes 4 seconds for a full-grown adult to sink to their knees in flowing grain and 20 seconds to be completely buried in flowing grain. Suffocation is the leading cause of death in grain bins.  

Experts encourage you to not enter a grain bin unless you absolutely have to. If you must enter a bin, make sure you break up crusted grain from the outside of the bin with a long pole, wear a harness attached to a properly secured rope, stay near the outer wall of the bin, and keep walking if the grain starts to flow to get to the safety ladder. You should have someone outside the bin who can help if you become entrapped, wear an appropriate dust filter or filter respirator to protect your lungs when you are inside, and make sure you shut off the power to augers and fans. 

For more information on grain bin safety and to find online training resources visit the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois at www.gfai.org, the Grain Handling and Safety Council at www.grainsafety.org, and the University of Illinois Extension at https://web.extension.illinois.edu/agsafety/equipment/grainbinsafety.cfm.