August 8, 2017
Fall Harvest
Familiar are the sounds and sights of harvest. The day will start at dawn and end at dusk or later. Soon the dust will be rising in the form of a cloud behind the combine and the smell of grain in the air and long lines will form at the local grain elevators. Harvest is a complex process involving multiple parties all working together toward a common goal. OSHA and the University of Wisconsin-Extension have published valuable resources you can use to train your personnel regarding grain handling. Training and implementation of safe work practices will help you experience a successful harvest while keeping your workers safe. These informational bulletins focus specifically on the prevention of engulfment and suffocation in grain bins and the hazards associated with exposure to grain dust.
Dangers of Engulfment and Suffocation in Grain Bins: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/hazard-alert_grain_bins.pdf. Human Health Concerns from Grain Dusts and Molds During Harvest: http://fyi.uwex.edu/agsafety/confined-spaces/grain-storage-and-handling/human-health-concerns-from-grain-dusts-and-molds-during-harvest/.