Towering grain bins are a familiar sight across the Midwest, but they can conceal a deadly risk. Each year, farmers are injured or killed in grain bin entrapments. With harvest approaching, farmers are urged to take life-saving precautions to protect themselves and others.

A Silent and Swift Danger

Grain bin accidents can happen in seconds. A farmer entering a bin to check moisture or break up clumps might not realize the grain has crusted or bridged. When it collapses, the farmer can be buried in flowing grain, which acts like quicksand. In only four to five seconds, a person can become trapped. In less than 20 seconds, they can be engulfed.

According to Purdue University’s Agricultural Confined Space-related Injuries and Fatalities report, in 2024 there were 34 grain-related entrapments in the U.S., 14 of which were fatal. This represents a 25% increase from the previous year.

Safety Tips to Save Lives

Having a proactive action plan is crucial to preventing bin accidents. “Farmers are aware of the danger but are in a hurry, especially before and during harvest. And that is when tragedy can strike,” says Dan Neenan, Director for the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), which offers safety training for farms, fire departments and businesses.

“We are producing, storing and moving more grain than any other time in U.S. history. Unfortunately, we are seeing more grain engulfment and farm injuries and fatalities,” he says.

Every farm should have a plan that includes proactive safety practices:

• Aim for zero entry into the bin.
• No one under 18 should be allowed in a bin.
• Train farm workers on bin hazards and emergency procedures.
• Post warning signs at entry points and restrict access to bins and piles.
• Work from outside the bin and above the highest point of grain.
• If entry is necessary, use a safety harness secured to an external anchor point.
• A spotter should always be present to monitor ropes.
• Lockout/tagout power to augers and sweepers before entering the bin.
• Check bins for proper oxygen and air-quality levels.

If an emergency occurs, six safety tips are crucial for survival.

1. If you or another person is trapped, stay calm.
2. Call 911. Provide details including the bin’s address.
3. Use a hat to cover mouth and nose. Assume a fetal position to shield the face and create an air pocket.
4. Prepare for emergency responders to arrive. If in a remote area, send someone to meet them.
5. If the victim is below the grain, turn on the aeration system to increase air flow and aid survival.
6. If the victim’s head is above the grain, do not enter the bin or turn on the aeration fan. Talk to the victim and keep them still.

More U.S. rural fire departments are being trained on grain entrapment and equipped with rescue tubes and augers. Neenan adds, “This can be challenging, however, since rural rescue crews are often voluntary with limited funding.”

In-Bin Tech Prevents Accidents

Technology makes a preventative difference in saving lives.

A digital grain storage monitoring system such as AGI BinManager allows farmers to remotely track and manage conditions inside bins, ensuring “zero entry.” The system prevents dangerous grain crusting by monitoring real-time moisture and temperature levels and automatically operating fans and aeration systems as needed.

Ryan Thompson, AGI strategic accounts manager, says this results in safer, more efficient grain storage and removes any reason for farmers to enter a bin.

“All too often, grain is loaded into the bin either too dry or wet and faces the risk of spoiling during storage,” he says. “That is when unsafe conditions begin. We want to prevent farmers from going into the bin.”

AGI BinManager has the unique ability to allow farmers to condition their crops, prevent spoilage and bring them to a profitable targeted moisture level – all from a cellphone or computer. “In the end that means zero entry for safety to people, enhanced product quality and a higher return on investment for the farm,” adds Thompson.

Be Safer with Free Bin Assessment

To help farmers explore safer, smarter grain storage solutions, AGI offers free bin assessments that provide personalized recommendations to improve storage management, enhance safety and maximize grain quality. To sign up, visit: https://www.aggrowth.com/en-us/farm-brands-overview/Bin-Monitoring/binmanager#-Book-a-safe-storage-assess-ment%E2%80%8B]