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Grain engulfment kills man buried in corn

On Behalf of | Aug 12, 2016 | Industrial Workers' Accidents |

Grain entrapment caused the death of one man who was buried in a grain bin at 12234 W Road located just northeast of Gresham last month.

Emergency personnel responded, including rescue and fire squads from Gresham and York, who were dispatched just before 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26. Responders from Central Valley Ag showed up with retrieval equipment, and deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Department assisted with rescue efforts, as the location fell within the jurisdiction of southern Polk County.

Upon arrival, the responders alerted Star Care helicopter services, which provides transport for medical emergencies, to fly out to the scene. Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol kept traffic at bay to allow the helicopter to land as close to grain bin as was possible. They also cleared the scene so emergency response vehicles had quick, clear access to the site of the accident.

The Polk County Sheriff said, “We were called about a man being consumed in corn inside the grain bin.” Despite their combined efforts, rescue personnel were unable to free the 72-year-old man before he died. He was located and his body recovered almost two hours after the first call came in, and pronounced deceased at the scene.

Grain entrapment is a deadly hazard for those working on Omaha farms. There are three types of dangers that can quickly engulf and kill a worker:

— Flowing grain

— Collapsing grain bridge

— Avalanche of vertical walls of grain

Often grain entrapments become fatal engulfments, just as last month’s accident did. Workers must take precautions to remain safe. If they get injured on the job, they can seek compensation through workers’ compensation.

Source: York News-Times, “Update: Man dies after becoming trapped in grain bin,” July 26, 2016

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