In this episode of the Farm Safety Roundup, host Shaun Haney is joined by Ryan Dick, Health and Safety Consultant from Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, to discuss a critical topic: grain entrapment. This hidden hazard is ever-present in the grain industry and poses a high risk to anyone working in or around grain bins.
Grain entrapment incidents most commonly occur in grain bins, but they can also happen during truck unloading, in elevator pits, or in wagons. Entrapment generally results from flowing grain, the collapse of grain bridges, or sidewall collapses, all of which can be catastrophic. According to Dick, “You want to have procedures in place and knowledge training done so that workers can carry that out through habit, not in a panicked state of mind.” Preparation, he noted, is essential; having well-trained personnel can be the difference between a successful rescue and tragedy.
Key preventive measures include maintaining grain bins properly and keeping grain dry to prevent bridging. Dick shares practical advice on working in confined spaces, which includes never working alone, always wearing a safety harness with a lifeline, and ensuring communication among all team members around the bin. He also stressed the importance of rescue training, noting that it builds trust among team members and boosts confidence in emergencies. “This is where it does make the big difference, or can make a difference if I am trapped in a grain bin, and I know my coworkers have done [training sessions] this year on worker rescue,” he explains.
For those looking to improve grain safety protocols, resources like the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s Be Grain Safe program provide valuable checklists and training. Prioritizing safety procedures and regular training is essential in the agricultural industry to help prevent incidents and ensure that, if an entrapment does occur, rescue operations can be executed swiftly and effectively.
Learn more about preventing grain entrapment and what to do in the event of an emergency:
Grain entrapment: 5 tips to plan, prepare and prevent tragedy
Be Grain Safe – Canadian Agricultural Safety Association
Flowing Grain Entrapment
How to Identify and Assess your Hazards: Using the WSPS Hazard Assessment Tool
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