As we head into the late summer, it is customary for grain bins to be getting cleaned out in preparation for the upcoming harvest. Also, we will be filling those bins back up in a few short weeks. We talk at length about staying safe in the bins and things you need to understand before you go inside.
Randy Yonker is a training officer for fire and EMS. He tells us that the first corner that gets cut more often than it should, is cutting power to the auger systems.
Yonker talks about the coffer dam system they use to make a rescue.
As a reference for pressure in a grain bin: one foot of grain pressing against your body creates 300 pounds of pressure against your body. Two feet increases up to 900 pounds of pressure. That is almost impossible to escape.
Take the time to secure yourself and attach a safety line. Make sure equipment is off. Take a few seconds to be safe and you could be rwarded with years more in your life.
