Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Minnesota: Farmer Dies of Injuries Sustained After Falling 20 Feet from Silo

摘要

A 62-year-old male farmer (victim) died from injuries he sustained when he fell from a silo. On the day of the incident, the victim and two other workers used a silo blower to blow silage into the silo. After the first wagon load of silage was emptied, the coworkers drove a tractor from the silo area to a field where another worker used a silage chopper to fill empty wagons. The victim remained at the silo and apparently climbed the ladder rungs of several previously installed silo doors while he carried another door to install in the next available door opening. He was wearing a pair of general purpose 'tennis' type shoes at the time. He apparently lost his footing near the height of the opening where he intended to install the door, fell down the chute and landed on the concrete floor. When the coworkers returned with another wagon filled with silage, one of them entered the silo room and found the victim lying on the concrete floor. He immediately ran outside and told the other worker. He then ran to the farm house and told the victim's daughter to call emergency medical personnel. Rescue personnel arrived shortly after being notified and administered resuscitation efforts that were unsuccessful. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. MN FACE investigators concluded that, in order to reduce the likelihood of similar occurrences, the following guidelines should be followed: (1) whenever work is performed at an elevation where the potential for a fall exists, fall protection equipment should be used; (2) workers should ensure that devices used for climbing are stable and secure; and (3) workers should always wear footwear that is appropriate for the work environment.