Worker hazards associated with the use of grain vacuum systems

Over the past two decades, there has been more widespread use of pneumatic handling of grain at commercial grain storage facilities and on farms as these operations have increased grain storage capacity and handle larger volumes of grain and feed In some cases, manufacturers have suggested that the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of agricultural safety and health Vol. 20; no. 3; p. 147
Main Authors Field, W E, Heber, D J, Riedel, S M, Wettschurack, S W, Roberts, M J, Grafft, L J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.2014
Subjects
Accidents, Occupational - mortality
Accidents, Occupational - statistics & numerical data
Agriculture - instrumentation
Edible Grain
Equipment Safety - instrumentation
Humans
Safety Management
United States
Vacuum
United States
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Summary:Over the past two decades, there has been more widespread use of pneumatic handling of grain at commercial grain storage facilities and on farms as these operations have increased grain storage capacity and handle larger volumes of grain and feed In some cases, manufacturers have suggested that the use of these systems is a safer alternative to removing residual grain manually in conjunction with the use of sweep augers. The use of grain vacuum systems has also been increasingly documented as a strategy in responding to grain storage fires and human entrapment and engulfment in flowing grain. With greater utilization of these machines have come reports of entrapments and engulfments. This article summarizes 27 such documented incidents, including 21 fatalities, that resulted from the use of portable grain vacuum systems. It includes specific recommendations for engineering, educational, and regulatory strategies to reduce the risks associated with the use of these systems.
ISSN:1074-7583
DOI:10.13031/jash.20.9989