Occupational hazards of grain facilities

[clarification needed] This page uses data and information about grain facility occupational exposure in the United States.

[1] On average, 243 agricultural workers suffer a serious “lost-work-time” injury, with five percent of these incidents resulting in permanent impairment.

Grain entrapment incidents can occur very rapidly, taking only a few moments to completely submerge a worker, minutes to suffocate, and hours to locate and recover.

[7] Greater than half of recorded incidents of entrapment/engulfment occur in corn; other grains in which individuals have been entrapped include soybeans, oat, wheat, flax, and canola.

[6] As it was mentioned in the ‘’’exposed systems and populations’’ more than 70% of entrapments have occurred on small or family farms that are typically exempt from OSHA grain-handling regulations.

Elements needed for a fire (fire triangle):[9] Additional elements needed for a combustible dust explosion: In 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a non-fatal, fall-related injury rate of 48.2 per 100,000 workers in the agricultural industry (a rate higher than reported for the transportation, mining, or manufacturing industries).

Exposure to fumigants can cause central nervous system damage, heart and vascular disease, and lung edema as well as cancer.

Hazardous gas concentrations are generally highest within the first 48 hours after silage has been added to the container, but may still be present for roughly four weeks.

The hazardous gases produced from fermenting silage (NO2 and NO4) are heavier than air and typically can be reduced in silos by means of opening the containers chute doors.

[13] The Department of Labor proposed, in 2011, sweeping regulations that would prohibit underage workers from entering grain silos and other hazardous activities.

[15] Agricultural organizations have worked to protect their workers by improving entrapment and other confined space rescue techniques, as well as by advocating increased awareness among farmers of engulfment prevention methods.

[16] Good housekeeping practices, specifically the elimination of potentially combustible dust accumulation, can help mitigate the probability of an explosion to occur.

OSHA recommends grain-handling facilities identify potential explosion contributors through conducting a thorough hazard assessment of: Worker exposure to falls can largely be mitigated through implementing and adhering to basic safety practices.