SILAGESAFETYONLARGEDAIRIES

1ProfessorEmeritus,KansasStateUniversity2President,KeithBolsenSilageSafetyFoundation

keithbolsen@hotmail.com

By:KeithK.Bolsen1,2

Safetyisthecontrolofrecognizedhazardstoreachanacceptablelevelofrisk.Ahazarddoesnotalwaysaffectthepersonwhocausedit-thehazardcanaffectanyone.Accidentsarecausedbyunsafebehaviororconditionsduetotheactionsofpeople:§  Enteringabunkersiloduringfillingwithoutmakingeyecontactwiththetractoroperator.§  Standingtooclosetothefeed-outfaceofanover-filledbunkersilo.§  Entangledinapowertakeoffshaftorfrontofaforageharvester.Silage-related tragedy knows no age boundary as workers and bystanders of all ages havebeeninjuredorkilledfromharvesttofeed-out(MurphyandHarshman,2006).Remember:Wearenotgoingtocreateasafetybubbleforouremployeesorasilageprogramthatishazard-free,butfollowingtheguidelineswillreducetheriskofsomeonebeinginjuredorkilledonthefarm.Consistentlyprotectingemployees,equipment,andpropertyfromthefieldtothefeedbunkinasilageprogramrequirespreparation,trainingandacommitment!!

WHATISSAFETY?

Whatarethetwobiggestproblemsintheglobalsilageindustrytoday?1.   SafetyToomanysilageprogramsareNOTsafe!2.‘Shrink’loss*ShrinklossisTOOhigh,TOO often!*Shrinklossisdefinedasthetonsofsilagedrymatter(DM)

ensiledversustonsofsilageDMremovedandfed.

THINKSAFETYFIRSTWehavenothingtolosebypracticingsafety;butwehaveeverythingtolosebynotpracticingit.

DennisMurphy,ExtensionSafetySpecialist,ThePennsylvaniaStateUniversity,StateCollege,PA–2006

Countlessvictimshavelearnedthehardwaythatthereisnosuchthingasasafebunkersiloorsilagepile!

DougDeGroff,dairynutritionist,Tulare,CA-2010

Everyseriousinjuryorfatalitysilage-relatedaccidentcouldhavebeenprevented!

AnonymousattheU.S.CustomHarvestersInc.AnnualConvention,GrandIsland,NE-January27,2015

My1stmissedsilagesafetywake-upcallJune16,1974–IlostpartsofthreefingersonmyrighthandinasilagebloweraccidentonaSaturdayafternoonmakingdough-stagewheatsilageattheK-StateBeefResearchUnitinManhattan.ButIdidnotgetit!

My2ndmissedsilagesafetywake-upcallOctober12,1992–Inearlyover-turnedapacktractorinabalebunkerattheK-StateDairyResearchUnit.Itwasaveryclose“nearmiss”accident!ButIstilldidnotgetit!

KeithK.BolsenProfessorEmeritusKansasStateUniversity

Thesilagesafetywake-upcall...thatIgot!SuccessfulFarming(September2000)At3:45pmonDecember3,1999,about6tonsofhaylageinabunkersilocollapsedonNickSchreinerofAthens,WI.Schreinerwasrescuedinamatterofminutes,buthesufferedaC6spinalcordinjury.Nickisinawheelchair.

“Thoseinmyprofessionhaveallwalkeduptograbahandfulofsilageandsmellit,feelit,andinspectit.Weallneedtobreakthatbadhabitandputsafetyfirst.”DougDeGroff,dairynutritionist,Tulare,CA.By:RonGobelWesternDairyBusiness-August2011issue

SilageSafety:oneman’sstoryofsurvivalinasilagepilecollapse

Whatarethesilagesafetyconcernsinthisphoto?

BunkerSilointheHighPlains–Sept.27,2018at10a.m.

Whatarethesilagesafetyconcernsinthisphoto?1.  Theemployeeisworkingaloneinthesilo.2.  Theemployeeisundercuttingthefeed-outface.3.  Thetruckisparkedtooclosetothesilageface.4.  Theemployeedidnotusethesilagerake.

2.

3.

4.1.

BunkerSilointheHighPlains–September2018at10a.m.

1.Fatigue2.Complacency/notpayingattention3.Truckortractorroll-overs4.Run-overbymachineryorequipment

5.Entangledinmachineryorequipment6.Fallfromheight7.Buriedbyasilageavalanche8.Silagegases(NO2andCO2)9.Alcoholanddrugabuse

MAJORSILAGEHAZARDS

FATIGUE

Ameetingwithallparties involvedbeforethesilageseasonbeginscanhelpeveryonere-focusontaskstheymightnothaveconsideredsincethepreviousyear.The long hours of harvesting, transporting, filling, packing, and covering silage in bunkersilosanddrive-overpilesincreasetherisksoffatigue,drowsiness,andevenillness.Guidelinesthatpromoteasaferworkingdayduringthesilageseason:§  Thesilageteamshouldbeproperlysizedtoperformalltaskssafely.§  Everyoneshouldgetagoodnight’ssleep,becausetiredequipmentoperatorsaremore

likelytomakemistakes.§  Periodicbreaksof15to20minutesareeffectiveinkeepingemployeesalert.§  Rotateworkshiftstokeepemployeesrested.§  Providenutritiousmealsonaregularschedulethroughouttheday.§  Employeesshouldcarrysnacksandplentyofwater.Stayinghydratedisimportance!

COMPLACENCY/NOTPAYINGATTENTION

Donotbecomecomplacent!Alwayspayattentiontoyoursurroundings,bealert,andavoiddistractions.Remember:eventhebestemployeecanbecomefrustratedwithmalfunctioningequipmentorpoorweatherconditionsandtakeahazardousshortcut,ormisjudgeasituationandtakeariskyaction.

Mac Rickels, a nutritionist from Comanche, Texas, almost lost his life the day he took asamplefromabunkersilowitha32-foothighfeed-outface.Eventhoughhewasstandingabout20feetfromtheface,12tonsofsilagecollapsedonRickels.Hischesthithiskneeswith such force that it shattered two of the bones in his leg. Fortunately someone wasnearbytopullRickelsfree.“Ididn’tseeorhearanything.Ihadbeeninsilagepitshundredsoftimes,andyoujustbecomekindofcomplacentbecausenothingeverhappens.Itjusttookthatonetime.”

TRUCKORTRACTORROLL-OVERS

Tractorroll-oversaccountforabout50percentoftheapproximately250tractor-relatedfatalitiesreportedannuallyintheUSA.Guidelinestopreventrolloveraccidentsinclude:

§  Roll-overprotectivestructures(ROPS)createazoneofprotectionaroundthetractoroperator,andwhenusedwithaseatbelt,ROPSpreventtheoperatorfrombeingthrownfromtheprotectivezone.

§  Neverfillabunkersilohigherthanthetopofthewall.§  Installsightrailsonabovegroundbunkerwalls,andIffillingoccursatnight,lightsshould

beinstalledontherail.§  Whenfillingbunkersilosanddrive-overpiles,packtractoroperatorsshouldalwaysform

aprogressivewedgeofforage,andmaintainaminimumslopeof1to3onthesidesandendsofadrive-overpile.

§  Addwheelweightsandweightstothefrontandbackofpacktractorsforstability.§  Withtwoormorepacktractors,establishadrivingproceduretopreventcollisions.§  Raisethedumpbedonlywhenthetruckisonafirmsurfaceandneverbackontothe

foragerampofabunkerorpiletounload.Trucksarelessstableasthebedisraised.§  Thereshouldneverbeextra‘riders’intractorsortrucksunlessthepersonisintraining.

Case study. AlfonsoMiranda was killed October 3, 2014, when the dump-bedtruck he was driving tipped over in a silage pit at Great Plains Feedyard nearHereford, TX. According to Deaf Smith County Sheriff, Dale Butler, deputiesconducted an investigation that concluded the death was an accident. ButleraddedthatboththeDepartmentofPublicSafetyandOSHAwerealsoinvestigatingtheaccident,butthosefindingshavenotbeenreleased.The circumstances of the accident are not uncommon. “Those trucks havebeenknowntodothatifnotoperatedcorrectly,”saidButler.The21-yearoldwaspronounceddeceasedat7:11p.m.atthefeedyard.MirandagraduatedfromHerefordHighSchool.CitedintheHerefordBrand,2014.

TRUCKANDTRACTORROLL-OVER(cont.)

Casestudy.SaturdayJune8,2019aGreenBaymandiedafteratractorcaughtfire.Atapproximately12:55a.m.thenewsagencyreceivedareportofatractoronfirewithsomeonepossiblystillinthetractor,onTonetRoadnorthofCountyRoadK.Thetractorhadapparentlyrolledandthenearbypowerlineswerearching.Sheriff’s Deputies, along withmembers of Luxemburg Fire & Rescue, Red River FirstResponders,rushedtothescene.Whenthefirewasextinguished,thejawsoflifewereusedtoenterthetractor.Theoperator,a54-year-oldGreenBayman,JosephJ.Stahl,waspronounceddeadatthescene.Mr.Stahlwaslevelingoffsilageinthebunkersilowhenthepacktractorhewasoperatingwentofftheendofthebunker.Thetractorfelltothegroundandtookoutthepowerpole.Thewiresfromthepolestartedthetractoronfire.

https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2019/06/08/green-bay-man-dead-after-tractor-fire-kewaunee-county/1391735001/

TRUCKANDTRACTORROLL-OVER(cont.)

RUN-OVERBYMACHINERYOREQUIPMENT

Run-overbymachineryaccidentshappen–believeit!Guidelinestoreducetheriskofrun-overbymachineryaccidentsinclude:

§  Allemployeesshouldwearhigh-visibilitysafetyvestsatalltimes.§  Neverallowbystanders,especiallychildren,nearmovingharvestandtransportequipmentinthefieldorbunkersilosandsilagepilesduringfilling,packing,orfeeding.§  Adjustrearviewmirrorsandinstallback-upwarningalarmsonalltrucksandtractors.§  Operatorsshouldstayintheirtrucksortractorswhilewaitingtounload.Ifsomeonemustexit,theyshouldradiotheotheroperatorsoftheirintention.§  Peopleonthegroundshouldneverwalkinfrontoforbehindanytruckortractorthatisstoppedwithoutfirstmakingeyecontactwiththeoperator.§  Usereversealarmdevicesoraremotevideocameraonlargemachinestoincreasevisibilityandwarnpeoplethattheequipmentwillbeoperatedinareversedirection.§  Allforageharvester,truck,andpacktractoroperatorsshouldbemature,competent,experienced,andwelltrainedfortheirtask.

Guidelinestoreducetheriskofrun-overbymachineryaccidentsinclude(cont.):§  Equipmentoperatorsshouldalwaysuseseatbeltsandnevertakeanunnecessaryrisk.§  Employeesshouldneversendorreceivetextmessageswhileoperatingequipment.

RUN-OVERBYMACHINERYOREQUIPMENT(cont.)

Case study. Justin Jantzen, 29, died Friday at Brian West in Lincoln, NE after a farmingaccidentontheeveningofNovember7,2008.Justinwasacustomforageharvester,andonFridayhewasworkingwithanemployeeonaforageharvestingmachine incentralSalineCountyNebraska.GlenJantzen,Justin’sfather,saidtheemployeethoughtJustinhadleftforhome,butnotlongafter,anotheremployeefoundJustin.Thedetailssurroundinghisdeathareunclear,butheappearedtohavebeenrunoverbyareartireoftheforageharvester.Justinwaslife-flightedtoBrianWest’straumacenterinLincolnwherehewaspronounceddead. “Justin was a devoted husband and father. He was a big time family man,” GlenJantzensaid.

AworldwideInternetsearchfor2016and2017,found18fatalaccidentswherethevictimwasentangledinsilagemachinery.Guidelinesthatreducetheriskofentanglementaccidentsinclude:

§  Keepmachineguardsandshieldsinplacetoprotecttheoperatorfromrotatingshafts,chainandv-beltdrives,gearsandpulleys,androtatingknivesonforageharvesters,wagons,andsilagefeedingequipment.§  Wheninspectionorserviceworkisneeded,shutdowntheengineandremoveandpocketthekeystopreventaccidentalstartingbyanotherperson.Beforeadjustingorunpluggingthecutterhead,waitforittocometoacompletestop.§  Theexposedbladesofasilagedefacerposeaseriousentanglementhazard.Neverapproachthedefacerbladeswhilethemachineisinoperation.§  Neverattempttoadjust,repair,oruncloganymachinewhileitisrunning.§  Extrapersons,especiallychildren,anduninformedbystandersshouldbekeptoutofthewayofthesilagemakingandsilagefeedingactivitiesatalltimes.Noexceptions!

ENTANGLEDINMACHINERYOREQUIPMENT

Case study. Mr.Peter Santini, 50,was chopping corn for silageathisHarmonytownshipdairy farm lastThursdayAugust30,2012. Itwasa ritualheknewwell.His father, Frank Santini, was working with him. Their teamwork had roots ingenerationsoftradition,onafarmthathasbeeninthefamilyforabout80years.Atabout5:15p.m.,FrankSantini leftbriefly togethis sonsome food.Whenhereturned,hefoundPetertrappedintheforageharvester.SargentBrianPolite fromWest Trenton,NJ StatePoliceheadquarters saidPeterSantiniwasattemptingtofixthemachinewhileitwasrunning,andhewaspulledintoit.Hewaspronounceddeadatthescene.CitedintheExpressTimes,Sept.1,2012andtheWarrenReporter,Aug.31,2012.

ENTANGLEDINMACHINERYOREQUIPMENT(cont.)

FALLFROMHEIGHT

Manybunkersilosanddrive-overpilesaretoolargetobesafeforthepersonsfillingthemor for thosesubsequently removing thesilageduring the feed-outperiod.Silage feed-outfaces that are 20 to 25 feet high and bunker silo walls that are 14 to 16 feet high arebecomingmore andmore common. A fall from height is a serious safety concern underthesecircumstances.Guidelinesthatreducetheriskofaseriousinjuryorfatalityfromafallfromheightinclude:

§  Installstandardguardrailsonallabovegroundlevelbunkersilowalls.§  Use cautionwhen removing plastic, oxygen-barrier film, tires, tire sidewalls, or gravel

bags near the edgeof the feed-out face; do notwear slick surface shoes; andwear asafetyharnesstetheredwithaheavyropeorcable.

§  Neverstandclosertothetopedgeofthefeed-outfacethantheheightofthesilage.§  Thereshouldbeno‘horseplay’whenworkingonthetopofabunkersiloorsilagepile.§  Do not ‘pitch’ or discard surface spoiled silage. It is simply too dangerous to remove

spoilagewhilestandingonthetopofanover-filledbunkerorpile.§  Neverallowpeopletorideinaloaderbucketforanyreason.

Thephotoshowsanemployee‘pitching’surfacespoiledsilagewhilestandingonly2or3feetfromtheedgeofa25-foothighfeed-outface!

FALLFROMHEIGHT(cont.)

Case study.At2:30p.m.on June26, 2018,Ron Schultewaswalking thewall of abunker silo to remove tires and plastic to prepare the bunker for feeding thefollowing morning. The wall was about 11.4 feet tall and 1.3 feet wide. Afteraccessingthewallbywayofametal ladderandwalkingabout23 feetof thewall,Ronfellandstruckhisheadonthecementfloorbelow.Hesufferedafracturedskullthat resulted in his death. The accident occurred at L & R Dairy Farm, LLC,Marshallville,OH.Ronaldwasadedicatedworkeranddairyindustryadvocatewithmanyyearsofexperienceworkingasafarmemployeeandpriortothatasadedicateddairyman.Hewasacommunityandchurchsupporter.PersonalcommunicationfromDr.DwightRoseler,DairyTechnicalConsultant,PurinaAnimalNutrition.Wooster,OH;July5,2018.https://www.the-daily-record.com/obituaries/20180628/Ronald-Schulte-62-smithville

FALLFROMHEIGHT(cont.)

AVALANCHEORCOLLAPSINGSILAGE

Silageavalanchesarerealandthereisnowaytopredictwhenandwheretheywilloccur.Therearenowarningsigns,anditonlytakesafractionofasecondforpartofasilagefeed-outfacetosilentlybreakoffandfall.Theresultcanbedeadlyforanyonebeneathit.Itisnotuncommonforcattlefeedlotsandlargedairiestohavebunkersandpileswithsilagefaces thatare18 to24 feet tallor taller.Commonsense tellsus thata20 to22 feet tallsilagefaceisfarmoredangerousthanonethatisonly10to12feettall.Documentedinstancesoffarmemployeesorbystandershavinganearmissorbeinginjuredbyasilageavalanchearebecomingmoreandmorecommon.

Casestudy. DougDeGroff,adairynutritionistfromTulare,California,hadpulledsamplesfroma12-footsilagefaceandturnedtowalkbacktohispickup.“Thesunbasicallywentout…Icouldn’tseeanylightandthefeedcoveredmecompletely.Iknewwhatwashappeningbefore Ihit theground.Theentire face fell onme…about20 tonsof silage. I rememberthinkingIdon’twanttodieheretoday!Thankfully,Iwasabletobrushthefeedawayfrommyface,andanearbydairyemployeepulledmefromthepile.”Fullyrecovered,Dougsays,“I am blessed to be here and everything works. I am physically, mentally and spirituallyhealthiertodaythanIwasonthedayoftheaccident.”

AVALANCHEORCOLLAPSINGSILAGE(CONT.)

Guidelinesthatpromotesafesilagemanagementpracticesandreducetheriskofaseriousaccidentorfatalityfromasilageavalancheinclude:§  Bunker silos and drive-over piles should not be filled higher than the unloading

equipmentcanreachsafely.Typically,aloadercanreachaheightof12to14feet.

§  Neverallowpeopletoapproachthefeed-outface.Andneverstandclosertothefeed-outfacethanthreetimesitsheight.

§  Suffocation isa likelycauseofdeath inmanysilageavalancheaccidents, so followthe

‘buddyrule’andneverworkaloneinabunkerorpile.§  Never dig the loader bucket into the bottom of the silage. Undercutting creates an

overhang that can loosenand tumble to the floor.This situation is commonwhen theloaderbucketcannotreachthetopofanover-filledbunkerorpile.

§  Ifaloadermustbedrivenclosetothefeed-outfaceinanover-filledbunkerorpile,the

‘buddyrule’shouldbestrictlyenforced.Noexceptions!§  Whenontopofthesilageinabunkerorpile,neverworkorstandclosertotheedgeof

thefeed-outfacethanitsheight.

AVALANCHEORCOLLAPSINGSILAGE(CONT.)

Guidelinesthatpromotesafesilagemanagementpracticesandreducetheriskofaseriousaccidentorfatalityfromasilageavalancheinclude(cont.):§  Neverparkvehiclesorequipmentclosertothefeed-outfacethanthreetimesitsheight.§  Takesilagesamplesfromaloaderbucketafterithasmovedtoasafedistancefromthe

feed-outface.§  Ifanewcropispackedagainstanexistingsilagefeed-outface,clearlymarkwherethe

twosilagesjoin.Usecautionwhenthefeed-outfaceapproachesthejoinedarea.§  Post warning signs around the perimeter of bunkers and piles saying, ‘Danger! Silage

FaceMightCollapse’.§  Ifabunkerorpileisinaremoteareaonthefarm,theperimetershouldbefencedanda

signpostedsaying,'Danger:DoNotEnter.AuthorizedPersonnelOnly’.

Casestudy.Iparkedthefrontofmypickupabout12feetbackfromthefaceofabunkersilothatwasabout14feethigh.WhileIwasstandingabout30yardsawaytalking to an employee, the silage collapsed. It hit the hood of my truck hardenoughthatonecouldeasilyseetheoutlineoftheaircleaner.This supports the recommendation to stay much farther away from the silagefeed-outfacethanthefaceistall.Note: Personal communication from Richard Porter, Porter Cattle Company,Reading,KS;February16,2017.

AVALANCHEORCOLLAPSINGSILAGE(cont.)

Casestudy. A53-yearoldNorfolk,NEmandiedMonday,October21,2013,inafeedlot accident. Stanton County SheriffMikeUnger saidMatthewWinkelbauerdiedafterhewasburiedbyalargesilagepilethatfellinanopensilagepitatFour-QuartersFeedloteastofNorfolk.Winkelbauer,whowastheownerandoperator,waspronounceddeadatthescene.Aco-workerwasseriouslyinjured.The victimwas standing in front of the feed-out face,whichwas about 13 feethigh,andtheavalancheextendedabout30feetfromtheface.

AVALANCHEORCOLLAPSINGSILAGE(cont.)

https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/1-man-dies-another-hurt-in-feedlot-accidentarticle_36f83fb5-48f4-504b-be0a-79ad4826116a.html

Case study.On Fridaymorning, July 14, 2017 and one day after his 30th birthday,VictorCanteReynosowasworkingon topofacornsilagepileat theedgeofTwinView Farm about 6miles northwest of Platteville, CO. Reynosowas removing thetarpthatcoveredthepileandthetiresthatheldthetarpinplace,accordingtotheWeldCountySheriff'sOffice.Heclimbeddownandwenttopickupthetireswhenthe silage pile collapsed on top of him. Sheriff's deputies responded to theemergency call about 9 a.m. They found Reynoso unconscious. EmergencyrespondersgotReynoso’sheartbeating,buthediedlaterthatmorning.Heisleavingbehindalovingandcaringfamily,havingbeenawonderfulhusbandtoIreneandanamazingfathertosonVictor.

AVALANCHEORCOLLAPSINGSILAGE(cont.)

https://www.greeleytribune.com/news/local/memorial-fund-created-for-man-who-died-friday-in-tragic-industrial-accident/

AVALANCHEORCOLLAPSINGSILAGE(cont.)

Thebottomlineinpreventingavalanchetragediesincludes:§  Avoidover-fillingbunkersilosandbuildingdrive-overpilestoexcessiveheights.§  Avoidworkingorstandingclosetoafeed-outface.§  Avoidbecomingcomplacent.§  Alwayspayattention to your surroundings andnever think thatanavalanche

cannothappentoyou!

SilageAvalanche–February2018TheaccidenthappenedonalargedairynearOthello,WA.Note.Theemployeeoperatingthepayloaderwasnotseriouslyinjuredintheaccident.

On January 13, 2014, Jason Edward Leadingham was working alone in abunkersilowhenamassiveamountofcornsilagecollapsedonhim(10to15tons). Jasonwas employedby Pirtle Farms LP of Roswell,NewMexico.Hisbodywas not recovered from the silage until about 2 and 1/2 hours later.Jasondiedofmechanicalasphyxia.Therewasasamplebagnear Jason’s lefthip.Hewasclutchingsilage inhishands and had silage in his mouth, which suggest that Jason struggled tosurviveinthefinalmomentsofhislife.

Chavis County Sheriff’sOffice –Man’s death an accident – January14,2014-Plains-ValleyOnlineNews

Date:January6,2017at2:19:11PMCSTTo:'RuthBolsen'ruthbolsen@me.comFrom:LaneLeadinghamThank you, God! Next Friday, January 13th, will be 3 years since Jason’stragicaccident.Irememberthephonecalllikeitwasyesterday.IsupposeIreallyam“better”,butitstillcrushesmyheartandhurtsmetomycore…Istilltrytomakesenseofhisdeathandsofar,thevideoistheonlypositivethingthatcameoutofallofit.Icannevertellyou“thankyou”enough,andIknowyousharethepainsofmy heart Ruthie.We loved our boys somuch ...Wemiss our boysmorethanwordscanexpress.HugstoyouandKeith!LaneLeadinghamRuidoso,NM

Thankyouforcaringaboutnotonlymysonandthesadnessthatmyfamilyfaces daily, but for all of the others before him and the ones still to beprotectedbyyourefforts.Iloveyouboth,dearly!LaneLeadinghamCityBankMortgageRuidoso,NM88345

Date:September27,2017at9:00AMCSTTo:'RuthBolsen'ruthbolsen@me.comFrom:LaneLeadingham

SILAGEGASESNumerous gases, including nitric oxide and carbon dioxide, are produced duringthefirst2to3weeksoftheharvesting,filling,andensilingperiods.§  Silage gases can accumulate in silos, feed rooms, and livestock housing and

openlotareasandcanbefataltohumansandanimalsalike.§  Nitricoxidechangestonitrogendioxide(NO2)when itcontactsoxygen inthe

air.Nitrogendioxideisatoxicgasandcanproduceasuddendeath.Evenbriefexposurecanbefatal.

§  Nitrogendioxide is a reddish-orange toyellowish-brownheavier thanair gas,

whichsmellslikelaundrybleach.§  Thehighest levelsofNO2areusuallyduringthe first24to72hoursafter the

forageisputintothesilo,butdangerouslevelscanpersistforupto3weeks.Remember: If you should experience even slight throat irritation or coughingaroundasilo,moveto freshairatonce.Seeadoctor immediately ifyoususpectthatyouhavebeenexposedtonitrogendioxidegas.

ALCOHOLANDDRUGPOLICYIt should be made clear in writing to all employees that they areexpectedandrequiredtoarriveforworkontimeandinanappropriatephysicalandmentalconditiontoperformalltaskseffectively.The abuse of alcohol and controlled substances are serious socialproblems, which can negatively impact the performance of anemployeeandtheimageofhisorheremployer.Bottom line: A safe, healthy, and productive silage program requiresthattheworkplacebefreefromtheuseofalcoholandillegaldrugsatalltimes.

§  “ACCIDENTSchangeLIVESandFAMILIES…FOREVER1.”

§  Asplitsecondofinattentioncancauseafatalaccident,

andnothingwilleverbethesameagain1.”1QuotesfromGlenJantzen,SilageContractor,Plymouth,NE.

TAKEHOMEMESSAGE

SafeSilage

EfficientSilage

SUMMARY:THINKSAFETYFIRST

STARTWITHAPLAN:§  Silagesafetyguidelines,policies,andproceduresshouldbepostedinbreakroomsorotherareaswhereemployeesmeet.§  Theguidelinesshouldbeclear,consistent,andeasytounderstandandahardcopymadeavailabletoallemployees.COMMUNICATE:§  Scheduleregularmeetingswithyoursilageteamtodiscusssafetyandincludeallemployeeswhetherornottheyworkinthesilageprogram.§  Familymembers,includingchildren,wholiveonornearthefarm,shouldalsobeawareofthehazardsandpotentialseriousrisksrelatedtothesilageprogram.ENFORCEANDREWARD:§  Usezerotolerancewhenenforcingsilagesafetyguidelines,policies,andprocedures.§  Rewardallemployeesandmembersofyoursilageteamforsafetycomplianceandaccident-freetimeperiods.

The KEITH BOLSEN SILAGE SAFETY FOUNDATION is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) corporationdedicatedtopromotingsafesilagemanagementpracticesforbunkersilosandsilagepiles,aswellasprovidingeducationalresourcesandmaterialsfortheglobalsilageindustry. Thegoal of the foundation is for everyone involved in a silage program on farms, dairies,feedlots,andotherlivestockoperationstoreturnhometohisorherfamilysafeeveryday.

KeithBolsenSilageSafetyFoundation

208DoubleHornTrail,SpicewoodTX78669www.silagesafety.org

CONTACTRuthieBolsen:512-293-7278(mobile)KeithK.Bolsen:512-293-3369(mobile)

CONCLUSION§  IfasilageprogramisNOTSAFE,thennothingelseaboutitREALLYMATTERSattheend

oftheday.§  ThemostIMPORTANTGOALinasilageprogramisforallemployeestoreturnhometohisorherfamilysafeEVERYDAY!