Grain Bin Entrapments and Fatalities

Grain bin entrapments in 2010 totaled 46, the highest number since records have been kept. The Purdue University Agricultural Safety and Health Program, keeper of these figures, says that non-fatal entrapments are rarely reported, and estimates the number of incidents may actually be about 25% higher.

Of the recorded entrapments, 33 were on farms and 13 occurred at commercial grain facilities. More than half of this year’s incidents (25 of 46) resulted in a fatality.

The high number may have been due to poor crop conditions that led to moldy, caked grain in storage bins. Individuals entering grain bins to deal with clogged equipment may become trapped when the grain shifts.