Silo Storage Safety Fatality File

Man Dies After Becoming Trapped Inside Corn Silo

A worker in died on Monday evening after being involved in a corn grain silo accident in Roseland, Nebraska, according to reports.

According to a KSNB Local 4 report, 34-year-old Travis Thelander was pronounced dead when his body was found.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened at the CHS Agri Services Center and confirmed Thelander worked there.

As his death is being considered a workplace death incident, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been informed.

It is not yet clear how Thelander became trapped, and an investigation has been launched in order for officials to understand how the accident happened.

Grain silo workers face numerous hazards in the workplace and within silos, death can occur in a variety of ways, according to an Iowa State University report.

In the 2022 article, it said February 20-26 is considered by some to be Grain Bin Safety Week. With the goal of raising awareness of the hazards associated with grain storage.

“Over two-thirds of U.S. grain is stored on the farm without OSHA standards for safety protocols. It is up to you to keep yourself, your employees, your spouse, kids, and grandkids safe from grain bin hazards,” the report said.

“Flowing grain can trap someone standing on the grain in just 4 to 5 seconds and that person will be completely covered in grain in about 22 seconds, according to the Grain Handling Safety Coalition.”

The university also presented a diagram that showed three of the most common ways in which a person could become trapped:

• “Worker becomes entrapped in flowing grain while unloading equipment is operating.”
• “Worker tries to break up a bridge of encrusted grain, when that bridge collapses.
• “Worker tries removing grain that is stuck to the bin, causing an avalanche.”

To avoid incidents, the article also said there were straightforward actions that can be taken that may prevent accidents.

These include posting warning signs on bins at entry points, restricting access to bins, working from outside the bin and above the highest point of grain, aiming for zero entry into the bin, using a life harness and having an observer.