Corn Comments: Grain Bin Safety featuring McCook Central FFA Student, Lauren Roling
Welcome to Corn Comments! I'm Lauren Roling, a McCook Central FFA member. We are brought to you by the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, a volunteer group of farmers who promote corn marketing in this state, the U.S., and around the globe.
On average, two dozen people are killed each year in the U.S. in grain entrapment incidents.
I recently organized an in-person grain bin rescue similation in Salem, South Dakota as part of an FFA project I’ve worked on since 8th grade. I’ve done extensive research on grain bin risks, safety measures and tactics and also surveyed forty-six producers.
Here’s what you should know about grain bin safety.
First - have a safety plan in place.
- Visually inspect grain bins before entering.
- Never enter alone; have at least one person in a safe position watching you in case something goes wrong.
- Use fall restraint equipment and make sure it is properly anchored.
- Don’t allow anyone to enter a bin who has not been trained.
- Shut down and lock out all grain handling equipment and turn off all power sources when not in use.
On behalf of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, stay safe out there!