26 Ate Today? Thank a Farmer. Better Farming | November 2024 Grain Handling Safety the hazards farmers are exposed to. “When grain is harvested and dried, that dust contains a variety of things, including bacteria, fungi, insects, potential pesticide residue, animal droppings, and dried plant particles,” says Ulmer. “We need to protect ourselves from dust exposure by limiting that exposure as much as we can, but are exposed whenever we are moving grain and working with it.” While exposure to hazards can’t always be avoided, the risks can be mitigated through planning, along with a focus on safety. Working safer The easiest way to avoid accidents is to prioritize training. “It’s important to bring awareness of hazards, pre-plan, and foster a safety culture on farms,” says Ulmer. “Make sure those hazards are talked about and there’s a plan is in place related to those potential exposures.” These plans would include responses for a potential emergency but could also include the preparation of first aid kits, personal protective equipment, and well-maintained facilities. “It’s always a good idea to have a fully stocked, up-to-date First Aid kit,” says Anderson. “Refreshing the contents during the off-season is helpful in making sure it’s ready to go for the busy season. If something from the First Aid kit is used, it should be replaced as soon as possible. It’s also important to make sure the kit is where you might need it – and this might mean you need more than one.” Anyone working on the farm should also know the hazards directly related to grain bins and grain handling. “Recent years have seen a rise in grain entrapments,” repeats Ulmer. “It can happen in just seconds. In four seconds, an adult can sink waistdeep, and complete submersion can occur as fast as 20 seconds. Grain acts as quicksand. It exerts a force of friction and pressure. Someone buried to their waist in grain requires a force of their own body weight plus 600 pounds to be extracted.” As general rules for safety, unauthorized people, including children and visitors to the farm, should never be around areas where grain is being moved. No one should enter bins as grain is flowing. Ulmer recommends using grain vacs or augers to move grain without entering the bin or wagon, as well as a shovel or long pole to break up any potential clumps or bridges. Monitoring grain condition can also help improve grain flow during handling. “Now that we are getting into November, we have to be thinking about grain condition. We are putting grain that’s in good condition into the bins at harvest,” says Ulmer. “The best way to keep grain in good condition is to make sure it’s dry, monitor the moisture, and know what ideal moisture is for that grain.” Out-of-condition grain can bridge, forming a crust over a void, which can then collapse, or it can adhere to its container, creating an unstable vertical grain wall. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association has created a Grain Bin Assessment Chart, an 18-question tool to assess if it is safe to enter a bin containing grain that is out of condition. Producers should also make sure they have the right tools and equipment. This includes PPE. Ulmer says a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator should be worn whenever grain is handled. All equipment and facilities should be checked frequently to ensure ladders and other features are safe and functional. “A comprehensive inspection of any farm machinery before the busy season, and then a pre-check before any operation, can help identify potential hazards and flag any issues,” says Anderson. “Addressing these small issues before they become big issues can help not only with untimely and expensive breakdowns but also improve safety.” CASA also has free online training CASA’s BeGrainSafe program trains firefighters on grain entrapment rescues. CASA photo
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