Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Staying safe around grain bins

Staying safe around grain bins

Grain Bin Safety Week runs from Feb. 17 to Feb. 23

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Grain bin safety is in the spotlight for Nationwide Insurance’s Grain Bin Safety Week.

While safety concerns might not be easily visible, farmers and others in the industry must take several precautions when working inside grain bins, said Ted Mottaz, president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

“You might look at a grain bin and not see anything wrong,” he told Farms.com. “But, if you step into a grain bin and the grain is going down into the auger, it’s going to pull you in. You should never be in a bin with the unloading auger going (and) you should have safety equipment to keep you above the grain. Ideally, someone else would be around to work with you so you’re not alone.”

Flowing grain can engulf someone within seconds, a 2015 report on confined space-related injuries said.

Providing  firefighters with the proper tools can help them handle rescue attempts more effectively.

A national contest is helping equip fire departments with grain bin rescue equipment.

Since 2014, Nationwide Insurance has awarded grain bin rescue tubes to 77 fire departments and training for firefighters across 24 states to help them respond to grain entrapment scenarios. That year, 38 documented grain entrapments resulted in 18 deaths.

“The work that farmers do is critical to the fabric of America, and their jobs are often dangerous,” Brad Liggett, president of Nationwide Agribusiness, said in a statement.

This year, Nationwide is once again calling for fire department nominations for the specialized equipment and training.

Community members can nominate local fire departments until April 30. Firefighters can also put their departments’ names forward.

Submissions must explain how the department and overall community could benefit from grain entrapment equipment and training. Applications should also detail how the training could be shared with nearby rescuers.




Trending Video

US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops

Video: US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops


A dry August and a “flash drought” in the ECB (Eastern Corn Belt) the driest top 10 to 15 years in 150 to 160 years (Ohio the driest in 133 years) plus disease is taking a bite out of the 2025 U.S. corn and soybean crops.
It's going to be an early harvest. This could be the start of the 89-year drought cycle that may have been delayed until 2026 as La Nina maybe returning.
The USDA September crop report is all about record corn ears and record soybean counts but the October USDA crop report will be about pod and ear weights.
Stats Canada reported higher forecasts for the 2025 Canadian Prairies all wheat and canola crops vs. last year based on satellite imagery but are they overestimating production?
The 2025 Great ON Yield Tour and Quebec crop tours are projecting corn and soybean crops below the 10-year average.
China's Vice Commerce Ministry Li Chenggang visits Washington this week as we continue to connect the dots is a positive sign towards a China/U.S. trade deal. But will U.S. farmers have a winter without China as they buy more soybeans from Uruguay/Argentina? U.S. Northern Plain soybean farmers are seeing red with flat prices at $8.97/bu!
U.S. corn exports on record pace up 99% vs. last year.
Fund short covering continues in corn futures bottom is in!