Grain Worker Engulfed
Under Flowing Corn

A 42-year-old Iowa farm worker suffocated to death after being engulfed in flowing grain while trying to clear a blocked auger. Two workers were emptying a grain bin at a private elevator. The bin was 40,000-bushel capacity, 36 feet in diameter and 50 feet in height. Corn in the bin had 15% moisture, but contained clumps of moldy grain from previous years. The 10-inch diameter auger stopped moving corn, indicating there was a blockage at the auger intake inside the bin. Both men entered the bin from the access door on top of the bin with probes and shovels. They left the auger running to assist their efforts and probed the corn around the auger opening in the bin floor. The corn was
approximately 10 feet deep at the sides and 6-8 feet deep in the middle. The blockage suddenly cleared and the flowing corn immediately began to engulf one worker. His co-worker tried to rescue him, but struggled to save himself from the flowing grain. He scrambled out of the bin, turned off the auger and phoned for help, but by the time he returned, his friend was completely engulfed in corn. When rescue crews arrived they also had difficulty accessing the tall bin. There was a side door at the base of the bin, but it was under corn and not used during rescue. Bins at this facility did not contain lifelines, nor were workers equipped with harnesses or other fall protection.

1. Employers should provide rescue equipment, training and adequate supervision to ensure that safe practices are followed while workers are entering grain bins:

(1) Ensure employees wear a body harness with a lifeline, (2) Provide a trained and equipped observer, stationed outside the bin maintaining communications with workers inside, (3) Train the observer in rescue procedures, (4) Provide specific equipment suited for bin rescue, and (5) never make employees enter bins underneath, or on top of, bridging conditions caused by spoiled grain.

2. Grain handling facility owners should install “chairs” over each unloading auger opening.

--The “chair” is a perforated metal structure covering the auger opening which helps to break up clumps, yet the open sides allow grain to flow through and around it.

3. Farmers should ensure that measures are taken to avoid spoilage of grain during storage.

--Spoiled / clumpy grain leads to clogged equipment and exposure to molds / other organic dusts.