Farm safety was top of mind for the National Farm Medicine Center at Farm Technology Days. There were demonstrations that showcased rescue operations for various farm accidents, with one of those dangerous situations being grain engulfment.
Randy Younker is a member of Central Fire and the National Farm Medicine Center. He helped to lead the rescue demonstrations, and he shares more about the dangers of grain engulfment.
Younker shares that 1 foot of grain over a trapped victim’s head is equal to 900 pounds of pressure. This pressure can crush the victim in a matter of minutes.
Younker provides some safety tips to help prevent these accidents. He says the biggest thing is to keep some sort of platform handy to give yourself more area to walk across on the grain. He also reminds folks to never enter a grain bin alone.
“Most of these accidents happen because farmers are always in a hurry… and they have to. It’s their job,” Younker says. “Slow down. Be aware of your surroundings that you’re in.”
To learn more about grain engulfment and rescue operations, visit marshfieldresearch.org/nfmc
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