Late Harvesting Could Cause COLUMBUS, Ohio—Be care ful when entering grain bins this fall. A trip into the bin to dislodge some spoiled grain caked against the walls could be the last thing you ever do. Each year, between 25 and 35 people become victims of grain drowning, a slow suffocation that occurs when a person is trapped and buried in grain. But this fall, there is an even greater risk of the accidents occurring, said an Ohio State University Extention associ ate safety specialist ‘The wet year and late planting produces a higher risk of grain drowning in grain bins,” Tim Lawrence said. “Harvesting high moisture com, anything greater than 14 percent increases the chance of grain bridges or caking of grain along the sides of bins.” Grain bridges occur when sever al inches to a foot of the top layer of grain spoils and solidifies, pro ducing a crust, or bridge, on top of the grain. The danger occurs when grain is removed from under the crusted layer, and the bridge remains intact. Farm workers checking a bin they think should be almost empty, but instead looks full, may walk on the bridge to see what’s happening. The bridge breaks and the worker is trapped in grain. Workers also can become trapped when trying to break loose spoiled grain that is caked along bin walls. If a worker tries to break up the caked material by picking at the bottom of the mound, large sections of grain could break off the top and cover the worker instantly. However, it is important to remember that grain drownings can occur even in bins where no bridging or caking has occurred. Loose grain acts like quicksand. It doesn’t take long for someone to become trapped, Lawrence warns. “If you get trapped in grain over your knees, you’re not going to get out by yourself,” Lawrence said. “And 100 often this occurs with the bin’s auger still running.” Once trapped Tn flowing grain, victims are rapidly drawn to the bottom of the bin where they can become entangled in the unloading auger. A person can be completely submerged in grain in less than eight seconds, and even faster with WHOLESALE & RETAIL I}OVL)FFF FARMS 302 lon;i Rond, Lnb.inon, PA 17042 Phone: 717-272-8943 Grain Bin Trouble largo- unloading equipment “During harvest time is a good chance to warn farmers of this dan ger,” Lawrence said. “They need to realize that in situations with high moisture com, added precau tions need to be taken to avoid drowning in grain.” To reduce the risk of grain drowning, Ohio State University Extension offers the following guidelines: • A person entering a grain bin should be fastened to a safety rope or ham'ess that is tiedtoa point out side the structure. Two additional people should be involved one 1,000 Bushels 1919 2,341,870 1920 2,695,085 1921 2,556,924 1922 2,229,496 1923 2,429,551 1924 1,860,112 1925 2,382,288 1926 2,140,207 1927 2,218,189 1928 2,260,990 1929 2,135,038 1930 1,757,297 1931 2,229,903 1932 2,578,685 1933 2,104,725 Facts From NCGA’s ‘The World Of Corn 1995’ who can see the person inside the bin and another on the ground who can assist in lifting the inside worker to safety, quickly go for aid and ensure that no one starts the unloading equipment • Never enter a bin of flowing grain. If you drop a grain probe or shovel, first stop the flow of grain and take the precautions given above, then retrieve the lost item. Remember, no piece of equipment is worth a human life. • Don’t enter a bin without knowing if it has a history of grain spoilage. This is especially true if the surface appears crusty; that is 2,a01,412 2,707,913 1,140,734 ■ I i I I 1,M0,112 1924 1934 1944 1954 1904 19' ~1,146,734 2,001,367 1,258,673 2,349,425 2,300,095 2,341,602 ~..2,206,882 ~..2,414,445 .2,801,819 .2,668,490 2,801,612 2,577,449 2,916,089 2,108,320 3,307,038 Oldfields ~ J ~H Seed Company the complete warm season annual... .. Zea mays L. Maize " ® EFJ A New Look at Corn • Baldridge Grazing and Silage Maize “A distinctive blend of. high protein yellow and white dent germplasm. Designed to give 60 days of the best eating warm season your stock ever tasted or 20 tons of high protein silage. Easy to‘manage. Solves summer slump. • Matua Prairiegrass • A heavy seeding New Zealand brome, adapted from Canada to the gulf of Mexico. Hay sweet enough to stop a bawling calf from walking the fence. Requires good fertility. • Puna Chicory - The dressing in your pasture salad. (Supply Limited) Contact AARON KING 717-687-7741 96 Paradise Lane Ronks, PA 17572 IMPORT7EXPORT Telephone USA 606-745-2085 Fax 606-745-2087 Ask for free newsletter and catalogue 1-800-448-5145 Com Talk, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 14, Itte-Papa TMM MIWO an indication that the grain has bridged. Always be cautious before walking on any surface crust. * If you believe you must enter a bin alone and the bin has unloading equipment, you should lock the control circuit, tell someone what you are doing and post a sign on the control switch informing other workers that you are in the bin. Likewise, check each bin before you begin to unload to be sure that no one is inside. • Be careful in any rescue attempt to avoid being pulled into 3,4*4,253 I 1949 2,946,206 1950 2,764,071 1951 2,628,937 1952 2,980,793 1953 2,881,801 1954 2,707,913 1955 2,872,959 1956 3,075,336 1957 3,045,355 1958 3,356,205 1959 3,824,589 1960 3,906,949 1961 3,597,803 1962 3,606,311 1963 4,019,238 PENNSYLVANIA MASTER CORN GROWERS ASSOC., INC. 10,11 7,C7: ,130 4,701.402 14 W '4 !')«■ 1964 3,484,253 1965 4,102,887 1966 4,167,608 1967 4,860,372 1968 4,449,542 1969 4,687,057 1970 4,152,243 1971 5,646,260 1972 5,579,832 1973 5,670,712 1974 4,701,402 1975 5,840,757 1976 6,289,169 1977 6,505,041 1978 7,267,°27 the flowing grain and becoming a second accident victim. • Install ladders and ropes on the inside of bins. In an emergency, farmers who did not take the above precautions and find themselves caught in an emptying grain bin should try to get to the wall of the bin, and then continue walking around the edges. The greatest danger is in the middle of the bin. These safety precautions should be discussed with your family, employees or fellow workers in order to avoid the possibility of grain drownings. 13,030 1979 7,928,139 1980 6,639,396 1981 8,118,650 1982 8,235,101 1983 4,174,251 1984 7,672,130 1985 8,875,453 1986 8,225,764 1987 7,131,300 1988 4,928,681 1989 7,531,953 1990 7,934,028 1991 7,474,765 1992 9,476,698 1993 6,336,470 1994 10,103,030 ii yn #.»rj II »*#n W"«i 1 ** ir 111 »u« yl> n»*i» I ih « * ** 229
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