While the numbers for 2020 are not final, this was a particularly grim year for grain storage bin entrapments and engulfments. In 2019, there were 38 reported entrapments in the US. Twenty-three were fatalities. Tragically, about one in five of total entrapments involve children.
Grain bin entrapments and engulfments are preventable. Grain storage bins produced after August 2018 may have anchor points for a lifeline and harnesses to prevent potentially fatal incidents.
Now Penn State Ag safety engineers and safety specialists are researching safe entry technologies for retrofitting older model grain bins. This is important because most of these incidents occur in the more than 260,000 grain bins nationwide that were manufactured before these safety technologies became standard.
As part of the project, information and feedback from agricultural producers is needed. Anyone who works around or owns a grain bin is eligible to participate by completing a short survey.
Survey participants will be entered for a chance to win one of three $75 Visa gift cards.
To participate, fill out the following survey by March 15:
Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions
Penn State’s Grain Bin Safe Entry Retrofit Project is funded by a grant from the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Farming, Fishing and Forestry.
