The Importance Of Grain Bin Safety

By: Alaina Dismukes

Farmers, ag industry leaders, and especially volunteer firefighters need training on grain bin safety and rescue procedures, according to a speaker addressing the recent Mississippi State University Seed Technology Short Course.

The two-day event considered all things seed-related, from field to bin, including harvest management, grain bin safety, state seed laws, and much more.

John Hubbard, senior safety specialist of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, talked on grain bin safety and what to do in the case of a grain bin-related accident.

Hubbard instructs fire departments on how to rescue individuals who become trapped in grain bins on the farm. He recently received a grant through Monsanto (now Bayer) to purchase a simulator to enhance the course he offers fire departments and to allow firefighters a way to practice the proper rescue procedures. The program, a three-hour, in-service training course for firefighters in the states of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana, has been credited with six lives saved and is continuing to branch out to the surrounding states.

“People go into grain bins all the time to check things like moisture content, and typically, when someone goes in, they do not have a harness or rope,” Hubbard said. “We need to train firefighters on matters like rescuing a farmer stuck in a grain bin, so they know what to expect. Firefighters are often volunteers and may not have any experience being on a farm.”

Hubbard said the program started about 18 years ago when the number of grain bins in Mississippi started rising.

“In the past, when the fire department got a call to come out for a grain bin rescue, it often meant a body recovery. Now, we have people walking out of it,” he said. “I’ve been a firefighter for 32 years, and grain bin rescues are a completely different animal that requires different equipment and methods.”

Alone and exhausted
Often, an accident happens when a farmer is working alone and is exhausted.

“If a farmer has been out on the farm by himself and gets into an accident, it is usually not discovered right away. Instead, he or she is looked for when they don’t show up to supper that night or hasn’t been heard from in a while,” Hubbard said. “Fatigue is another factor. Frequently, a farmer has been working long hours, which makes you more prone to mistakes.”