September is Farm Safety Month with an emphasis on helping farmers/ranchers stay safe and well.
This past year saw about a 40 percent increase in the number of reported cases involving agricultural confined spaces, according to the 2022 Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-Related Injuries and Fatalities. The report was recently released by the Purdue University-Agricultural Safety and Health Program in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
The annual summary documents the previous year’s frequency and causes of confined-space and grain-entrapment incidents in the agricultural industry – providing a historical analysis of these hazards.
The authors of the summary are Yuan-Hsin Cheng, agricultural safety and health researcher; Mahmoud Nour, postdoctoral researcher in Purdue University-Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Bill Field and Kingsly Ambrose, professors of agricultural and biological engineering; and Edward Sheldon, research associate in the Purdue University-Agricultural Safety and Health Program.
The summary reported 83 cases in 2022 – 24 fatal and 59 nonfatal cases – involving agricultural confined spaces. That represents a 40.7 percent increase as compared to the 59 cases in 2021. The authors explain there are limitations in data collection because not every case may be reported. As a result, the numbers are approximate.
Of the total number of confinement cases, 42 grain-related entrapments represented a 44.8 percent increase as compared to 2021. It was the biggest number of reported grain entrapments in more than a decade. According to the authors, grain entrapments are the most common type of agricultural confined-space incidents.
“In the summary, an issue we try to point out is the role of out-of-condition grain in grain entrapments,” Sheldon said. “Many entrapments result from someone entering a bin or structure to break loose clumped, spoiled grain. Keep the grain in good condition to eliminate the need to enter the bin.”
EDITOR’S TAKE:
Because September is Farm Safety Month, now is the perfect time to reach out to farmers/ranchers in your area with a simple reminder to “Think Safety”! With harvest underway in some areas and soon to begin in other parts of the country, safety should be on the minds of every farmer/rancher. It is a message you can support as a CAD member and someone who is concerned for each and every one of your farm/ranch customers. While the message may highlight farm safety, it will also serve as a good time to let them know about your inventory and other parts or service specials on AgTruckTrader.com.
