Utility and Safety of Compressed Air in Preventing Grain Entrapment.

Highlights: Compressed air strategy was evaluated as a grain entrapment prevention method. Nozzle types affected compressed air efficiency. Open ½ inch nozzles performed best. Mid-scale experiment confirmed compressed air utility in breaking grain clumps. Dust, fungal, and noise levels exceeded maximum limits during operations, and PPE must be worn properly before using compressed air to break grain clumps.

Abstract: Grain entrapment, a severe and often fatal agricultural hazard, continues to pose a significant challenge in grain storage and handling. These incidents are often due to out-of-condition grain blocking outlets, leading to workers frequently entering the grain bin to dislodge grain. This study evaluates the utility of compressed air as a preventive measure to break up grain clumps located at bin outlets by conducting pilot and full-scale experiments using an air compressor. This study also evaluated potential hazards due to the use of air compressors. Three nozzle types were tested: open ½ inch, Crimped ½ inch, and the AirSpade. The findings indicated that the open ½ inch nozzle was the most efficient, with an average clearing time of 15 minutes per run, outperforming the crimped and AirSpade nozzles. Noise levels during operation ranged up to 105 dBA, with dust and fungal spore concentrations exceeding safety limits inside the grain bins and returning to acceptable levels shortly after operation. Full-scale testing indicates that compressed air can be useful in unclogging bins. The study underscores the potential of compressed air to enhance grain handling safety, offering practical safety recommendations and suggesting the need for further research to optimize and standardize its use in preventing grain entrapment.