Grain bins serve a critical role in agriculture, providing secure storage and protection for large quantities of grain before it’s sold or processed.

However, these structures also pose very serious and threatening dangers to workers if proper safety procedures aren’t followed when working in or around them. Learn more about how to keep our farmers, employees and operations safe. For more information, visit thinkgrainbinsafety.com.

Grain bins are one of the most dangerous places on a farm—with suffocation, entrapment, dust explosions, and falls being the biggest risks. The best advice is: avoid entering if at all possible. But if entry is absolutely necessary, here are the core safety steps (based on OSHA and farm safety best practices):

✅ Before Entering

1. Plan Ahead

   • Never enter alone—always have at least one trained observer outside.

   • Develop a rescue plan in case of emergency.

2. Lockout/Tagout

   • Shut off and lock out all grain-moving equipment (augers, conveyors, fans).

   • Ensure no grain is flowing in or out of the bin.

3. Test the Air

   • Use a calibrated gas monitor to test oxygen levels (must be at least 19.5%).

   • Check for toxic gases (CO₂, CO, hydrogen sulfide). Ventilate the bin if needed.

✅ While Entering

1. Harness and Lifeline

   • Wear a body harness with a lifeline attached to a secure anchor outside the bin.

   • The lifeline should be monitored at all times.

2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

   • Wear a dust mask or respirator to reduce inhalation of grain dust.

   • Use safety glasses, gloves, and non-slip boots.

3. Communication

   • Maintain constant visual, verbal, or radio contact with the outside observer.

4. Entry Conditions

   • Never walk on or break through crusted grain—it can collapse and cause entrapment.

   • Never stand on a grain pile that is being emptied—it acts like quicksand.

   • Use a safety rope or board to distribute weight if you must step onto grain.

✅ Rescue & Emergency Precautions

• The outside observer should never enter the bin to attempt rescue without proper gear—many fatalities occur when would-be rescuers get trapped.

• Have rescue equipment (lifelines, grain rescue tube, shop vac/auger to remove grain) readily available.

• Call 911 immediately if someone becomes entrapped.

⚠️ Bottom Line:

• Don’t go in unless it’s absolutely necessary.

• If you must, lock out equipment, test the air, wear a harness, and always have trained observers outside.

To learn more, contact the Frost / Beck Insurance Agency.  Call us at 419-592-4476, send an email to frost@frostins.com, or click here  to submit your request today!  Alternatively, stop by and see us at one of our four convenient locations in Archbold, Napoleon, Holgate, or Whitehouse.