Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program released its “2023 Summary of U.S. Agricultural and Confined-Space Related Injuries and Fatalities” report, which documents a 36 percent decrease in grain entrapments in 2023.
There were 27 fatal and non-fatal grain entrapment cases documented in 2023, with 16 being fatal and 11 non-fatal. This was slightly lower than the five-year average of 34.2 cases per year. (The total number of incidents in 2022, at 42, was the highest in 10 years). The state with the most documented grain entrapments in 2023 — fatal and non-fatal — was Iowa with five cases total. These cases include only those involving entrapment or engulfment in flowing grain. They do not include cases involving falls from grain storage structures or entanglement in grain handling equipment such as floor or sweep augers. Further, Purdue’s report does not specifically identify the number of grain entrapment cases that occurred on farms versus at commercial facilities. However, historically, 70 percent of grain entrapments have occurred on farms.
When it comes to all confined space-related incidents – including those not involving grain entrapment – 55 fatal and non-fatal cases were documented in 2023. Of these, 29 (53 percent) were fatal and 49 percent of all cases were directly related to grain entrapments. A total of 36 incidents (65 percent) occurred on farms.
NGFA and its safety partners have the resources – including videos and regional safety seminars – to assist employers in preventing common grain entrapment hazards, as well as providing the appropriate safety standards for farms and commercial facilities. The NGFA and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as part of their joint Alliance agreement with the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) and the Grain Handling Safety Coalition (GHSC), host an annual major safety outreach effort, “Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week.” NGFA also hosts its annual Harvest Safety Week at the end of August to share grain safety resources particularly relevant to the busy harvest season. Training videos, guidance documents and more safety resources are available at ngfa.org/safety.