Sunday, Feb. 16, Gov. Tim Walz proclaimed Feb. 16-22, as Grain Bin Safety Week to draw attention to the rising incidence rates of accidents and deaths in and around grain bins.
โI grieve with the Minnesota families who have lost loved ones in these terrible accidents,โ Walz stated in a news release. โFarming is one of the most dangerous professions in the United States, but through awareness and education, we can work together to decrease the number of preventable accidents, injuries, and deaths.โ
Ten people have died in farming-related accidents in Minnesota since June 2019. Grain bin accidents can occur in and around grain storage bins especially when grain is flowing, resulting in entrapment or suffocation. Data from the University of Purdue shows 307 reported cases of grain entrapment between 2007 and 2015.
