Grain Entrapments Down 36% in 2023

Grain entrapments are down 36 percent in 2023, according to Purdue University's Agricultural Safety and Health Program's latest "2023 Summary of U.S. Agricultural and Confined-Space Related Injuries and Fatalities" report.

The report revealed that there were 27 grain entrapment cases documented this year, including 16 fatal and 11 non-fatal incidents. This figure is slightly below the five-year average of 34.2 cases per year. In contrast, 2022 saw 42 incidents, the highest number in the past decade. Iowa was the state with the most documented grain entrapments in 2023, with five cases reported. These statistics focus exclusively on entrapments or engulfments in flowing grain and do not account for incidents involving falls from grain storage structures or entanglements in grain handling equipment.

Further, the report does not specify the number of grain entrapments on farms versus commercial facilities. However, historical data indicates that 70 percent of these incidents typically occur on farms. When considering all confined space-related incidents, not just grain entrapments, the report documents 55 cases in 2023. Of these, 29 (53 percent) were fatal, and almost half were directly related to grain entrapments. A significant 65 percent of these incidents happened on farms.

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and its safety partners offer resources such as videos and regional safety seminars to help employers mitigate common grain entrapment hazards. They also provide safety standards for both farms and commercial facilities. Through a joint Alliance agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS), and the Grain Handling Safety Coalition (GHSC), NGFA hosts an annual "Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week." Additionally, NGFA organizes its Harvest Safety Week at the end of August to promote grain safety, especially during the busy harvest season. For more information and safety resources, you can visit ngfa.org/safety.