Confined space hazards are seen as a critical threat to many farmers and workers in the agricultural industry. While methods in modern farming have given rise to many conveniences and improved efficiency, especially during the harvest season, they also created the risk of confined spaces that could lead to accidents or critical situations.

Gas Hazards

Confined space is hazardous when gases are involved. In a closed-off location with no windows or adequate airflow, dangerous gases could gather and lead to a worker’s suffocation or even death. There are many different types of gases found on a farm that could pose a risk to farmers.

One gas-related confined space hazard is hydrogen sulfide, formed when manure (used for fertilizer) decomposes. Because of this, farmers need to ensure that areas that have the presence of this type of gas have adequately ventilated spaces to work in.

Dust Hazards

Another familiar danger to farmers in agriculture is dust. Dust, particularly during grain harvest, is an extraordinarily flammable or combustible substance. This dust accumulates as grain is harvested, gathered, and contained. Furthermore, the dust can be highly hazardous to the lungs, causing respiratory problems among workers.

Because of the risk, farmers need to ensure that grain storage spaces are clean and dry. Furthermore, to reduce the likelihood of respiratory damage from these confined space hazards, any workers in the area should be wearing oxygen masks and have tanks to facilitate their breathing.

Further Precautions and Reminders

It’s important to ventilate any confined space before entering the area. This eliminates the accumulation of gases or dust in the area. If possible, workers should first test the atmosphere of the confined space to check if it’s safe to work within it.

Finally, an essential precaution is communication between the workers inside the space and those outside it. This way, someone is always aware of what is going on in the space and if the worker inside needs immediate aid.

Discover more important reminders and regulations about dealing with workplace hazards by visiting KC Supply for more resources.

During the harvest season, dump pit safety comes to the forefront of concerns for people in the agriculture sector. As work will increase substantially, so does the risk around the different equipment and tools used for the harvest. Workers need to be especially vigilant around the dump pit, as accidents are more likely to happen.

• Never walk in front of the vehicle — Even if the vehicle does not appear to be in gear, if it is moving or stationary, never walk in front of it just in case.
• The driver must know where you are at all times — If you’re working around the vehicle, makes sure that the driver is aware of your presence. Dump pit safety rules require drivers and workers to be aware of each other’s presence and location.
• Use safety zones when working around vehicles — Ensure that all the workers and drivers know where the designated “safety zone” is around the dump pit. This should be the only area where employees can stand close to the large vehicle or perform a task around it.
• If there are any issues with the dumping mechanism, make sure the operator is aware — Inform the driver of the vehicle or the workers around it and stand aside while trying to determine the best way to resume flow.
• Absolutely no smoking around the dump pit — It’s critical for dump pit safety to prevent any smoking or the use of lighters and similar devices. If the dump pit is holding grain, it could be incredibly flammable and pose the risk of an explosion.
• Do not begin hoisting until instructed, do not move the vehicle until the operator signals an OK — The dump pit is a massive vehicle, and it can pose a tremendous risk to the workers around it, especially if it’s carrying a substantial amount of grain. Operator and driver must be in good contact and signal to one another before any movement with the vehicle is made.

This harvest season, enforce the dump pit safety rules to prevent accidents and minimize the hazards to workers and equipment alike. Harvest can proceed smoothly and safely.

Visit KC Supply to find more resources if you’re looking for more vital safety information and equipment during harvest season.

Grain bin accidents are one of the deadliest incidents that could happen during grain handling and processing. According to studies, six out of ten workers who fall victim to grain bin accidents don’t survive.

It’s one thing to hear about grain bin accidents and how dangerous they are; it’s a specter that could hover over an agricultural workplace. But somehow, such accidents are so much more real when you learn of the experience from someone who’d survived it.

Arick Baker’s Experience

In a story that made news even to mainstream outlets, Arick Baker has recounted the harrowing experience of being buried alive in a grain bin. He had been warned by his father, even as a child, that “if you go down in the corn, you don’t come out.”

Baker was standing in the 60,000-bushel grain bin trying to break up chunks of rotten corn that were impeding the flow of the grain. He was using a PVC pipe to do it and, fortunately, wearing an oxygen mask. As Baker’s father left him on his own, the corn gave way beneath Baker, and he fell into an air pocket in the corn that was now rapidly filling, threatening to drown him. Only his fingers were sticking out in the grain.

The Rescue

He was unable to move from the weight of the corn, and he explains that it felt like he was being squeezed from the pressure all over his body, as though thousands of snakes were strangling him. Baker was stuck in the corn for a harrowing three to four hours before someone noticed he was missing in the grain bin, and Iowa Falls Volunteer Fire Department came in. At first, they couldn’t even find him until they heard him yelling beneath the grain, with the oxygen mask slowly running out of batteries. And then they started digging.

The grain shifted five times and avalanched back down before the fire department brought the grain bin rescue tube. It turned out to be a life-saving device as it was key to finally getting Baker free. The firefighters used it as a protection against the avalanching grain while getting Baker out of the corn.

It took a few more hours of digging before Baker finally was freed, his heart pushed to the limit, and corn being surgically removed from being embedded into his skin. It was a near-death experience that no one will ever forget.

And for people who work in agriculture, it’s a cautionary tale of the dangerous risks of handling grain.

Grain bin tubes and other life-saving devices are critical when working with any kind of grain in the grain bins. Visit KC Supply and learn more about them.

During harvest season, ways to protect workers start to gain traction among agricultural businesses. And few issues are as key to the season as grain bin safety. Grain handling is considered a significantly high hazard industry where six out of every ten workers who get trapped in a grain bin don’t make it out alive. It’s imperative for industries and businesses that handle grain products to be incredibly vigilant about worker safety.

Here are some critical reminders and tips for grain bin safety:

• Alert everyone that workers will perform an activity in the grain bin. If it’s absolutely unavoidable to do work or a specific task while there is still grain in the bin, first alert everyone working on or around it about the activity.
• Protect workers through a team system. No one should be working in the grain bin alone. A team of two or more, at the very least, is best. This way, there is always someone looking out for the worker inside and listening to their movements.
• Test the air before entry. Before anyone goes into the bin or the silo, test the air for the presence of dangerous gas, combustible dust, and gases, and if there is enough oxygen in the silo for the worker to breathe comfortably.
• Provide the whole team with safety equipment. The team in and around the grain silo needs to have standard safety equipment like lifelines, boatswain chairs, and other similar lifesaving gear. Even better, have a grain bin safety tube on standby ready to protect workers entering the silo if needed.
• Check the positioning of the grain before entry. Has the grain accumulated onto one side of the silo or the bin? If so, do not enter that bin. There is a high risk of built-up grain falling in an avalanche on top of the worker, thus suffocating them.

These are just some of the critical safety reminders issued to protect workers working in and around the grain bin. Everyone must do their due diligence and ensure the safety of all workers during this season.

Need more information on how to keep workers safe in grain bins? Visit KC Supply to learn more about regulations and reminders.

Fall harvest is rapidly approaching, and while it’s still the sunny summer months, it’s always good to be prepared. This season is the peak of the harvest time, and there will be a lot of work to do for both large and small farms. Safety during harvest season should be the utmost priority of any landowner or business owner, so get ready for the season with these important reminders.

• Prepare grain bins and safety equipment. A great deal of grain gets harvested during the fall season. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to prepare the grain bins and silos, so they’re ready to receive the year’s harvest. Furthermore, you need to prepare the safety equipment for handling grain, including grain bin tubes and other life-saving equipment, to prevent fall harvest accidents. 
• Ensure the bins are clean and all components are working. Cleaning the bins prevents any issues from coming up later on. Checking for the bins’ structural integrity, foundations, and even its walls can ensure that it’s strong enough to handle the harvest operations and the crop it’ll hold. Make sure to check for leaks and that an access ladder is present at all times. 
• Be aware of the machines at all times. Workers in the fields need to be thoroughly aware of where the harvesting machine is and whether it’s on or off. Regardless, no one should be near the harvesting machine when it is in the field during the fall harvest. No one should also maintain the machine while it is out on the field and operational. 
• Provide workers with proper training. One of the best ways to avoid incidents is to ensure that all workers and supervisors have the proper briefing and training on their jobs. If you’ve hired more personnel for the harvest, be sure that they are appropriately trained and that they are aware of what their jobs will entail. Emphasize safety protocols and regulations to them. 
   
  The fall harvest can be an incredibly hectic but rewarding time. With the proper preparation, things should go off without a hitch.Always be mindful of the proper safety procedures during any season. Visit KC Supply to find out what equipment you might need for the fall harvest.

Heat-related illness and incidents are a prime concern in many industrial and agricultural industries, especially during the summer months. Over time, the summer season has become hotter and hotter. With that comes the substantial risk of heat-related incidents, especially for workers who do many tasks outdoors or labor indoors in enclosed, unventilated spaces.

Here are several critical ways by which you can prevent these incidents from happening at work.

• Provide adequate hydration.
  Make sure all workers have plenty of access to water or a cold drink. As much as possible, they need to keep their body temperature down and avoid the risk of overheating. Urge them to drink water or liquids frequently to prevent heat-related illness. 
• Emphasize the importance of breaks.
  After toiling long hours in the heat, workers need to take a quick break in between. Workers need to eat lunch and drink water in the shade, and take a rest before they go out there and resume their duties once again. Pacing themselves, especially during heavy labor and physically taxing tasks, is critical. 
• Require the use of sunscreen and light-colored clothing.
  Sunscreen prevents outdoor workers from getting sunburns and reduces the risk of skin cancers or melanoma. Furthermore, sunburns can affect how the body regulates its temperature and thus need to be avoided. Light-colored clothing also keeps them cool by reflecting the hot sunshine. 
• Be aware of the signs of heatstroke.
  Though heat-related illness prevention is better than a cure, it’s still important to know the signs if someone is showing symptoms of heat stroke or fainting. Workers may become disoriented, stop sweating, or collapse completely. To prevent the problem from worsening, spot and address the situation immediately, getting them the medical help they need. Heat-related illnesses are severe matters and could endanger the lives of workers. It could also come at a significant cost to any business. Avoid the risks of heat stress and be prepared for high temperatures.

  KC Supply prioritizes the safety of your workers and your team. Visit KC Supply to find much-needed safety equipment and more workplace safety tips.