WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA—Amid a nationwide effort to reduce the number of tragedies in America’s most dangerous profession, a new report indicates progress.

Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program released its 2023 Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-related Injuries and Fatalities during National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 15-21. The report aims to maintain public focus on the issue of agricultural confined-space injuries and fatalities. It also seeks to aid in the development of evidence-based training, and offer resources for developing improved workplace regulations.

Fifty-five cases involving agricultural confined spaces were reported last year—a 33.7% decrease over the 83 cases documented in 2022 and less than the five- and 10-year averages. Of the documented 2023 cases, 28 were tied to livestock waste handling facilities, entanglements, and grain dust explosions or fires. Roughly half were caused by grain entrapments—the leading cause of confined space-related incidents.

During 2023, grain entrapments accounted for 27 of all documented cases—a 35.7% decrease over 42 cases in 2022. Of last year’s reported entrapment cases, 59.3% resulted in a fatality.

The report notes that current surveillance could potentially underreport cases by up to 30%. Additionally, over two-thirds of U.S. grain storage capacity is on farms that are exempt from Occupational Safety and Health Administration injury reporting requirements. That means the summary likely does not encompass all grain-related entrapments.

Market conditions and the consolidation of operations have driven an increase in on-farm grain storage—heightening safety concerns, noted Matt Nuckols, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation safety coordinator.

“That means an increase in farm safety awareness for storage structures is needed,” he asserted. “Farmers need to be trained on and use safety protocols to prevent entrapments. In the case of an entrapment, rescue personnel need specific equipment and training to increase the likelihood of successful outcomes.”

Historically, there have been considerably more documented fatal grain entrapment cases than non-fatal cases, with suffocation from engulfment the leading cause of death for these incidents. An adult can sink knee-deep in flowing grain in four seconds and be fully engulfed in 20 seconds.

In an effort to reduce the number of grain bin tragedies, 17 county Farm Bureaus in Virginia have donated life-saving grain rescue tubes to local fire departments. Additionally, VFB Safety has paid to have fire and rescue personnel from 20 counties trained on using the device, called the Great Wall of Rescue.

Visit agconfinedspaces.org for a hub of instructional materials and resources on the hazards associated with agricultural confined spaces, and to report incidents to the Purdue team.

Agsafety4youth.info offers training material for youth, including two educational lessons on agricultural confined spaces.

Visit vafb.com/Safety for additional safety resources.

Media: Contact Nuckols at 804-938-2043.