Worldwide, the demand for grains has become overwhelming. Used for food, animal feed, and fuel, grains such as corn, sorghum, wheat, and soybeans are stored in huge silos and grain bins. These methods of storage are considered quite dangerous, with the risk of being buried alive and suffocation posing a serious concern for agricultural workers. Without proper safety procedures, suffocation accidents can occur quickly and unexpectedly, and dozens of workers are killed every year while working in or around silos and grain bins.
Causes of Suffocation Accidents
Agricultural workers can suffocate in a grain bin or silo when they become engulfed in the grain. Usually, the worker is loosening frozen, spoiled, or trapped grain and becomes entrapped, eventually dying of suffocation.
Other suffocation accidents can occur when workers are walking on top of a “bridge” of grain under the assumption that the grain can hold their weight. The worker then falls through the “bridge” and quickly becomes engulfed.
Silo accidents are preventable. Workers can prevent serious injuries and fatalities by following regulations on grain handling enacted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), including:
- Never enter silos or bins when the auger is in operation
- Only enter silos or bins once proper training is given
- Learn how to properly enter a silo or bin
- Only use augers that are designed and manufactured in a safe manner
Agricultural jobs rank as one of the most dangerous in the U.S. If you or a loved one was injured, you may be entitled to compensation depending on the circumstances of your accident. Negligence on the part of your employer, machinery manufacturer, landowner, etc. can be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, and the lawyers at America’s Consumer Lawyer will work with you to help determine whether filing a lawsuit is in your best interest and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
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