Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) for Wisconsin: Farmer Dies Following Fall Down Silo Chute and After Striking a Motor and a Pulley

摘要

A 60 year old male farmer (the victim) died after falling down a silo chute and striking his head against a pulley and motor. The silo was located at the end of the dairy barn and the silo room connected the silo and the barn. The farmer had apparently climbed up the silo chute to repair the silo unloader. A pail of tools which contained a chain taken from the unloader and a trouble light were found by the body. The farmer was wearing bulky boots and there was wet haylage on the steps of the ladder. It is assumed that these conditions along with having a pail in one hand may have caused the farmer to slip and fall down the chute. Hair on the pulley and motor at the base of the chute, a gash in the back of the victim's head and a broken spinal vertebrae at C-2 provide evidence of a fall and a blow as the cause of death. The victim was working alone at the time of the incident, he was last seen alive at 10:00 AM. Relatives found the victim at 8:30 PM and called for emergency services. First responders arrived within minutes, found no signs of life and called the police to investigate the death. Police arrived, photographed the scene and arranged to meet the coroner at the funeral home. The coroner pronounced the victim dead at the funeral home. The Wisconsin FACE investigator concluded that, in order to prevent similar occurrences, farmers should: (1) Develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive written safety program that includes but is not limited to a survey of all work processes and equipment on the farm.