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Last Updated: Mar 19, 2010 - 9:26 AM |
Moisture content in grain can present a variety of challenges during the harvesting and storing processes. These facts are commonly known to those who have been in the grain farming business throughout the Midwest.
One of the most insidious dangers in the storing aspects of grain could raise its ugly head this year because of all the moisture from the last harvest. “Bridged Grain” is a phenomenon that occurs when high in moisture content grain sticks together to form a crust which may be self supporting. This condition gives the farmer the false impression that it is safe to stand on the surface of the grain. When the grain is being augered out it can create a hollow cavity underneath the surface of the dome. If a worker were to try and walk across the dome over the top of one of these augered out cavities the dome collapses and buries the worker in grain, creating an immediate emergency situation. It is very difficult to determine exactly where the victim is. For each minute a person is completely buried his chances of survival diminish by 10%.
John Girard, local farmer and Annie Jeffrey Hospital board member, recently commented that the tendency for these types of accidents can very often happen to young farmers. When involved in the removal process of grain bins, sometimes the mindset for getting the grain out quickly and efficiently, overrides safety concerns. If grain that is stuck in the bin starts to delay the process, it’s usually the younger, more agile guy that gets sent up to take care of the problem. If they are not aware of the dangers, or simply decide to “risk it” for the sake of speeding things up, the results have the potential to be tragic.
The recommended guidelines for handling a bridged grain situation are: (1) Stop the auger and do not go in the bin. (2) Instead, look for a funnel shape at the surface of the grain mass after some of the grain has been removed. If the surface of the grain appears to be undisturbed and has not funneled down toward the auger, then it has bridged and there is a cavity underneath the surface. (3) Do not enter the bin to break the bridge loose or attempt to stand on the grain. From the outside of the bin use a pole or other object to break the bridge, causing it to collapse. Tie the pole to a rope which is tied to the bin so you can retrieve it if you drop it. (4) If the surface is disturbed and shows evidence of the grain flowing down to the auger, then a chunk of crusted grain has probably moved down to the auger and blocked off the flow of grain. This situation is dangerous if you enter the bin, because the grain at the top of the funnel will break loose and avalanche down.
Grain can also “set up” in a large mass against the wall or in various formations when it has been stored while in poor condition. It can avalanche down on a worker who is attempting to break it loose with a pole or shovel. There is usually no warning when it breaks loose and cascades down. The impact of the grain will knock the worker off of their feet and bury them in various positions. This can happen almost instantly. Secondary avalanches are possible, which makes it very risky for rescue personnel to dig out the worker.
Precautions for this type of problem are: (1) Do not enter the bin and try to break down grain that has “set up” in a large mass. (2) Attempt to break up the mass either from the top of the bin with a long pole on a rope, or from outside of the bin, through the door, with a long pole. Entering the bin to do this work can cost you your life! Expect and be prepared for the grain mass to break free at any time to cascade down.
The Polk County area is extremely fortunate to have well coordinated emergency responder volunteers along with quality medical staff in the local medical clinics and at the Annie Jeffrey Hospital. Bob Carey is a Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy and the Emergency Management Coordinator for Polk County. He has spent many hours in the training and coordinating aspects of emergency scenarios that are common to our type of rural area. The ultimate goal is to get quality information into the hands of those who need it to prevent avoidable trauma situations. But, when emergencies do occur, be ready to respond with a well coordinated, properly trained, skilled staff of emergency personnel.
© Copyright 2010 by polkcountynewspaper.com
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