> Inside Out The fi rst step, says Gales, is to conduct regular visual inspections — an important and often overlooked part of any farm’s operation plan. Pausing for a close inspection will only take a few minutes, but can determine if your bins are structurally sound. A thorough inspection includes evaluating the inside of the bin. If you need to enter a grain bin for any reason, always make sure the bin is empty and post an observer outside the bin before you enter it. See the sidebar below for safe entry tips. Once safely inside the bin, look for any of the same signs you would search for on the outside of the bin. If your bin has inside sti eners (steel braces on the side walls), examine them for collapsing or kinking. In most cases, if issues are caught early, repairs can be made and a bin can stay in use, says Gales. He suggests contacting the bin manufacturer or a qualifi ed grain bin representative and asking them to inspect your bin to determine what repairs might be needed. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Gales says. “Most representatives would be happy to look at your bins, even if they didn’t build them.” And don’t put it o because you are worried about an expensive repair. Bin failures do happen and they can be deadly. “Is saving a few thousand dollars worth risking someone’s life?” Gales asks. ■ Grain Bin Entry Safety Tips Use extreme caution every time you enter a grain bin. The Purdue University Agricultural Safety and Health Program reports 39 people died in confi ned space incidents in 2019, signifi cantly more than in the previous year. More than half (57 percent) of those cases were grain entrapments. According to Jerry Wolf, CHS regional safety specialist, you should always have a plan before you enter a grain bin. • Buddy up. Never enter a grain bin without at least one person stationed outside the bin and ready to call for help. • Check inside air condition before you enter. Your local co-op may have an air monitor you can use. If you have no air monitor, open the roof vents and side door to clear the air before entering. • Before entering, inspect the interior for grain stuck to the wall or bridged, which can fall and engulf you. • Use safety equipment to enter the bin, including a ladder, safety harness and lights. • If you will enter through the top of a bin, wear equipment to prevent falling. • Never enter a bin when equipment is running. Shut o and lock out equipment before entering. • Never walk on grain that is deep enough to engulf you. If the remaining grain is deeper than knee-high, use a safety harness and a lifeline secured on the outside of the bin. • Never use an open fl ame inside a grain bin. “Many fatalities in bins are the result of poor decisions,” Wolf says. “Just because it is the way you have always done it doesn’t mean it is safe. Habits are hard to change, but you need to be safe.” LEARN MORE: Find safety resources from the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center at umash.umn.edu. Your CHS Connection 25